A number of Douglas GPs have been busy delivering COVID-19 vaccinations to residents in the Douglas Shire, but they say they need more help.

Mossman Medical Centre and Mountain View Medical Centre in Mossman are the two accredited GP practices in the Shire administering COVID jabs.

Currently, anyone over the age of 50 or in the Phase 1a and 1b categories, such as frontline workers, and adults with underlining medical conditions, are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Queenslanders aged between 40-49 can also now register to get vaccinated.

Those over 50 can receive the AstraZeneca vaccine at a GP clinic, while those under 50 who fit the criteria can receive the Pfizer jab at a Vaccination Hub, such as at Cairns Hospital, as it needs to be specially stored at a low temperature. Check your eligibility here. 

Dr Mark Colbridge from Port Village and Mossman Medical Centres encouraged Douglas shire residents over 50 to contact the Mossman GP clinics to book their bulk billed COVID-19 vaccine.

However, residents are asked to be patient as due to high demand and lack of staff, waiting times apply.

Mossman Medical Centre is aiming to vaccinate around 150 people per week while Mountain View is currently able to administer around 50 per week.

“We are also trying to roll out the influenza immunisation at the same time as well as struggling to maintain our usual core business due to a lack of GPs in the area,” Dr Colbridge said.

“We are doing our best and we are getting doctors, nurses, and admin staff out of hours to help but we will not be able to achieve the target on our own.”

To help with the roll out Mossman Medical has begun running mass vaccination days at the clinic on Saturdays, with the next availability not until 19 June. Bookings essential.

Dr Colbridge added that even if both clinics could administer their maximum doses of vaccine each week, it will still not be feasible to achieve the targets that the government has set.

He is calling for more help, asking Queensland Health to set up a vaccination hub in the Shire at Mossman Hospital.

“What we need is a bigger centre so that between everyone we can get the job done.

“We can’t physically do it and our regular jobs alone, we need some help.

“And as a tourist destination we will be getting tourists from interstate which increases the risk compared to other regions,” Dr Colbridge said.

Earlier this week a COVID-19 vaccination van, the COVan, visited Mossman Gorge and Hospital, with many keen locals rolling up their sleeves, however Dr Colbridge said the few days the van was in the Shire still only puts a small dent into the many people needing inoculation.

Louise Cooper, Managing Director of Mountain View Medical agreed saying support is needed as “this is a mammoth task for two GP practices to undertake.”

“At present we have a waiting list for COVID vaccinations, a list of our own patients, other people and even people from Cairns, and we are working steadily through this.

“There are many complexities surrounding the logistics of running these clinics, particularly trying to work around all the usual services we provide at the practice.

“It's good to be part of the roll out as we want to help our community reduce the health, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We would still appreciate patience as the demand for the vaccine is greater than our capacity to vaccinate at present," she said.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Acting Executive Director Medical Services, Dr Don Martin said they are working with Mossman Hospital, Northern Queensland Primary Health Network, and Bamanga Bubu Ngadimunku to understand the local demand for the COVID-19 vaccine.

“If the vaccination clinic at Mossman Hospital (the COVan, which visited this week) goes well, we will look at establishing a longer-term clinic at the hospital,” he said.

“Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program is being led by the Australian Government through primary care vaccination providers.

“This means that most COVID-19 vaccines will be delivered to Queenslanders through approved general practices (GPs), GP respiratory clinics, community-controlled health services and pharmacies.

“Most Queenslanders get vaccinated by these providers – whether for childhood immunisations or the annual influenza vaccination.

“It is important that people are vaccinated where they normally seek care, so if your GP is offering vaccination, we encourage you to visit them,” he said.

The State Government also announced this week it will open 14 Community-Based Vaccination hubs across the state by the end of July to help make the COVID vaccine rollout easier. A number are in central and southern Queensland, with seven locations yet to be announced.