Fuming Melbourne GP unleashes after COVID-19 vaccines for kids fail to arrive

A Melbourne general practitioner has been left fuming after COVID-19 vaccine doses for children failed to arrive on time.

Balwyn Health Care was promised vaccine doses for five to 11-year-olds would be delivered last week, but they’re yet to arrive.

One of the GPs at the practice, Dr Mary-Anne Lancaster, says she’s been unable to contact anyone to find out when they’ll receive the doses.

“We have not been able to contact the centre, they won’t answer our calls, they won’t answer the emails and we’re not allowed to go pick them up ourselves, which we’ve often done in the flu vaccine, when there’s been problems with delivery,” she told Tony Jones, filling in for Neil Mitchell.

Dr Lancaster says the practice has been forced to cancel appointments scheduled for today.

“We’re going to have to cancel, as are a lot of other clinics, the kids today,” she said.

“Our receptionists absolutely cop it from the patients unfortunately … but it is totally out of our control.”

Dr Lancaster says if the vaccines can’t be delivered, medical practitioners should be trusted to collect them.

“If they would just let us manage it … we know how to vaccinate, we know how to manage the cold chains, we know how to maintain the vaccines, let us do our jobs,” she said.

“If you can’t deliver them let us come and pick them up. Why can’t we come and pick them up?”

Press PLAY below to hear a fired up Dr Lancaster explain the situation