Dad jab fury: ‘Not the shot my boy needs’
A SOUTHPORT father says he was “escorted” off a Gold Coast vaccination clinic after his 15-year-old son with an underlying health condition was refused a jab because he didn’t have photo ID.
Stephen Gleeson has been trying to get his son, who has a heart condition, a Pfizer vaccine for months but says he was turned away by staff at the Broadbeach Vaccination Centre on Wednesday because his son’s approval letter and Medicare card was not enough proof.
“I told them I’ve been waiting for months and didn’t even argue the point but said I just wanted a clear answer,” he said.
“Then the woman said she would go and ask her supervisor and instead of doing that she got security to come and ask us to leave.
“He was circling us to leave. It was very intimidating.
“Being escorted out of the building in front of hundreds of people was really, really upsetting and humiliating.
“I’ve fought like hell to get this vaccine to protect my son’s life and to be told to leave was devastating.”
Mr Gleeson said his son didn’t have photo ID because he was only 15 and didn’t drive and was home-schooled for health reasons so didn’t have a school photo ID.
He rang 13 Health and the federal health minister’s office and was told children were not required to have photo IDS for vaccinations and only needed government-issued documents such as a Medicare card or birth certificate.
Mr Gleeson is unsure how to rebook an appointment because the government system only allows for a phone number and email to be used once.
“I don’t know what to do, honestly I’m just reeling from that lady calling security on us when we did exactly as asked without question or aggression,” he said.
Gold Coast Health’s web
site details information about what to take to the Broadbeach Vaccination Centre and there is no mention of photo ID for children.
“Please present to your appointment on time and bring your SMS or email appointment confirmation, Medicare card and drivers licence,” it says.
A Gold Coast Health spokeswoman said there no instances on Wednesday of anyone being forcibly removed from the Broadbeach Vaccination Centre.
“Our staff are entitled to feel safe in their workplace,” she said. “When our security staff notice aggressive behaviours, such as raised voices, they move closer to the situation should their assistance be required.
“It is a reasonable requirement, especially when vaccinating a vulnerable minor, that appropriate identification is provided before a vaccination is given.”
The spokeswoman said Mr Gleeson should return to the centre with “appropriate identification for his son so immediate arrangements for vaccination can be made”.
Queensland Health advises people to take photographic ID, a Medicare card if they had one, and information on existing medical conditions, medications and any vaccinations they have recently had.
“Our vaccination centre staff are doing a wonderful job of vaccinating around 2000 people every day,” the spokeswoman said.
“We receive regular positive feedback on their high level of customer service.
“We understand it has been frustrating for some people to wait for appointments to become available and we thank Gold Coasters for their patience.”
The clinic aims to vaccinate 2800 people every day by midSeptember.