Vaccine provider views on the impact of COVID-19 on immunisation in general practice: a qualitative study
Tobias Morgan
A * , Abela Mahimbo B , Mark Harris A and Anita Heywood A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A University of New South Wales (UNSW), School of Population Health and Community Medicine, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
B University of Technology Sydney (UTS), School of Public Health, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
* Correspondence to: t.morgan@student.unsw.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 28(6) 535-541 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY22003
Submitted: 5 January 2022 Accepted: 8 June 2022 Published: 8 August 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Background: General practitioners and general practice nurses are the most trusted and experienced sources of vaccine information for Australians and are the principal providers of routine immunisation in New South Wales, Australia. This study explored perceived barriers and challenges to the rollout of the COVID-19 immunisation program and continued provision of routine immunisation through general practice.
Methods: Structured in-depth interviews were conducted between 29 April and 8 July 2021 with general practitionerss and general practice nurses working in accredited general practices in the Greater Sydney area. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.
Results: Fifteen participants (12 general practitioners and three general practice nurses) were interviewed. Participants considered the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to significantly burden general practice at the cost of delivery of routine preventative care. Patient fear and anxiety and vaccine hesitancy were perceived as major challenges to the provision of all immunisations, exacerbated by media coverage of shifting recommendations related to COVID-19 vaccine adverse events. Inadequate communication from government bodies contributed to a perceived erosion of patient trust in general practice. Participants considered routine immunisation to be minimally disrupted owing to robust practice-based recall and reminder systems and legislated immunisation requirements for children.
Conclusion: The role of general practitioners and general practice nurses in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout was seen to be one of great burden and complexity. As the primary providers of immunisation in New South Wales, continued communication with and support for general practice, both financially and informationally, is pivotal to the sustained successful provision of routine and COVID-19 immunisation.
Keywords: Australia, COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines, general practice, government, primary care, qualitative research, vaccination.
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