Simplify rollout, urge GPs
Local doctors keen to join
AUSTRALIAN GPs desperate to be part of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout have called for more of them to be approved to deliver the jab, with currently about 1000 practices to be given accreditation.
The Australian Medical Association is also pleading with the federal government to simplify the process to make it easier for the elderly and disabled to get the jab off their own doctor.
Despite more than 5400 medical practices across the country applying to take part, nearly four in five will not have government approval to deliver the vaccine when it begins being rolled out to the wider community.
The Australian Medical Association says restricting which GPs can deliver the vaccine will unnecessarily complicate the vaccination program forcing frail elderly people to visit someone who is not their regular GP to get vaccinated.
“If we’re going to have any chance of reaching the October time frames that the Prime Minister has mentioned then we’ve got to get every GP practice in the country involved in this rollout,” AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid said.
He said one problem with the current framework was it would be up to individuals to understand which phase of the rollout was under way, whether they were eligible and they would have to take the initiative to make an appointment for a vaccine.
It may have been simpler to have GP practices co-ordinate the rollout by contacting their patients and encouraging them to have a jab, Dr Khorshid said.
Frontline workers, people aged over 80 and those with major health problems eligible for early doses of the vaccine will also have to secure employer letters, birth certificate or letters from their regular doctors to prove to unfamiliar medicos they are eligible for the jab.
Meanwhile, Tasmanian doctors are still in the dark about the names of the 14 aged care facilities where the vaccine will be rolled out on Monday and there are questions over the medico legal consent process for the vaccinations.
Primary Health Tasmania has sent an email to GPs warning five days before the rollout begins “currently there are still unanswered questions about the consent process”.
“You may be contacted by a residential aged care facility with an urgent request for a resident consent. Due to the rapid nature of the rollout, could you please assist where you can.,” the email said.
THE beginning of the construction of a new $300m subdivision in Kingston has been brought forward due to high interest and sales, the developers say.
A groundbreaking ceremony for Traders In Purple’s Kings Quarter development at the former Kingston High School site was held on Wednesday.
Traders In Purple Tasmanian development director Jennifer Cooper said apart from the 80 homes in phase one, the $300m masterplan also features entertainment facilities and a 10,000sq m commercial office space, which had the potential to create 800 full-time equivalent jobs.
“Despite COVID-19 uncertainty, confidence in the Tasmanian economy remains strong as evidenced by exceptional levels of interest in the first stage at KQ and in Kingston in general,” Ms Cooper said.
“Even before construction commenced, KQ attracted significant interest from prospective purchasers here in Tasmania and interstate.
“We attribute the growing interest to the fact it is located in the heart of Kingston and it is offering a diverse range of housing types including freestanding homes, townhouses and apartments.”
The subdivision will also be home to the Kingborough Council’s multimillion-dollar playground, a health centre and the Kingborough Community Hub.
TWO business partners hope their new electric bike tourism venture in Dunalley will prove a turning point after a series of life challenges.
Karen Jackson and Scott Griffiths launched Marion Bay E-Bike Tours in October last year.
The pair — who both lost their homes during the 2013 bushfires at Dunalley — also both lost their jobs in the Port Arthur area due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
Mr Griffiths then lost his wife in a car accident.
But the pair have dusted themselves off and their new venture is on the road.
Now they just need visitors to jump in the saddle and support their enterprise.
“We launched in October last year and, as to be expected, it was a bit quiet till all the COVID restrictions were lifted,” Ms Jackson said.
“But we had good numbers in the Christmas holidays and hope things will start building up again.
“We both lost our jobs at Port Arthur when the heritage site and caravan park were forced to close during the shutdown, but are ready to give this a red-hot go.”
The company runs e-bike riding tours around the town of Dunalley as well as out to Marion Bay and Connelly’s Marsh — about 20km away.
All ages can take part but bike riders need to be 14 years old to ride on Tasmanian roads.
“The bikes are so easy to ride and I can do 30km without breaking a sweat,” Ms Jackson said.
“The kids reckon they are ‘cheat bikes’.
The electric bikes can reach speeds of up to 35km/h and are low impact.
The company also hires out bikes to people who would rather explore on their own.