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I was interviewed and quoted in the article, “The moving parts of a nationwide vaccine rollout”, written by Ms Anastasia Tsirtsakis, published in newsGP.

Tsirtasakis A. The moving parts of a nationwide vaccine rollout. newsGP. 2021 March 1. Available from: https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/key-supplies-patient-consent-booking-schedules-the [PDF]

Quotation

“RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care (REC–QC) member Dr Michael Tam is currently working as a medical officer at Sydney’s Liverpool Hospital COVID vaccination hub.

He says while general practice is a leader in vaccinations, this is ‘not routine business’ and will require individual clinics and practices to ‘problem solve and create solutions’ that suit their local contexts.

‘We need to remember that we are trying to vaccinate a huge proportion of the population over a relatively short period of time,’ Dr Tam told newsGP.

‘To undertake this important work will require system changes and leadership.

‘Some of the issues and challenges that will need to be solved include things like staff rosters and staff roles. This will require establishing a healthy team culture within the practice environment and is something that needs to be developed and enhanced now.’

…

Many of the issues that could impede patient flow, Dr Tam says, are likely to be logistical and administrative in nature.

‘For instance, screening and consent, patient registration, recording data of the immunisation event and ensuring it has sent correctly to the Australian Immunisation Register,’ he said.

‘I think special focus needs to be placed on these processes, as they might not be something we have great expertise in as clinicians.’

…

Dr Tam says while there are many factors to consider, the rollout is a chance for general practices to play an important role.

‘Although this is a threat to general practice, it is also an opportunity,’ he said.

‘An opportunity for practices to improve their team organisation and enhance their capacity to deliver, funded, short-term health interventions.’”