City docs ease any concerns

DOCTORS say the risk of blood clots affecting Gold Coasters who’ve already had their first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine is “exceedingly low”.

On Friday, hundreds of people across the city were denied the AZ vaccine and the Gold Coast University Hospital, the only place in the city with the Pfizer vaccine, was inundated with people wanting an appointment.

On social media, Gold Coast Health (GCH) advised that the hospital was only vaccinating people in the phase 1a and 1b categories who already had appointments.

“We are not currently making new appointments for Gold Coast residents, so please do not ring the hospital to make an appointment,” it said.

GCH said locals with appointments for the AZ vaccine at GPs on Saturday and Sunday, and who’ve had the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine without any serious adverse effects or blood clots, get the second dose as planned.

Haan Health GP Dr Kat McLean said the Commonwealth’s quick response should reassure Gold Coasters that their safety was of top priority to governments.

“GPs are already risk-assessing patients before giving them the vaccine, so patients really have nothing to worry about. But if you get severe persistent headaches or other unusual symptoms between four and 20 days after, you need to see your GP.”

Heather McLellan-Johnson, managing director of Medical on Miami and the Burleigh Cove Respiratory Clinic, said most locals would not be affected by the news because the vaccine roll out was still only in phase 1b stage.

Dr McLellan-Johnson said her clinic had been getting 1200 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine per week and it had completed 2400 doses.