The first week of the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in aged care homes has highlighted problems of delivery of the vaccine and equipment. In Brisbane a doctor gave to two elderly patients a dosage that was five times above the recommended levels prompting an investigation by the federal government.

The federal Department of Health said in a statement that Health Care Australia (HCA) had assured it that the that the doctor in question had completed “all of the required COVID-19 vaccine training”.

“HCA has advised that this doctor has not been involved in delivering vaccinations in any other facilities and that this was his one and only COVID-19 vaccine shift.”

“The doctor dispensed more than the prescribed doses to two patients at Holy Spirit Carseldine in North Brisbane.”

The Department of Health said the doctor would be referred to the appropriate regulatory authority.

The two patients were under observation and that their families had been informed. They had not shown any adverse reaction to the excess dosage of the vaccination.

The department said that it was concerned over the serious breach of protocol and misleading information that it had received from HCA.

“The department has sought urgent evidence, independently verified, that all other HCA immunisers have completed all of the required training,” the statement.

It warned that the HCA could have its contract terminated if further breaches occurred.

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Meanwhile, Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck told the “Today” programme on 9News that there had been logistical issues in the rollout which had been expected but the emphasis was to ensure that the most vulnerable received the vaccine first.

There were reports that one aged care facility did not receive the vaccine needles it needed and in some cases where vaccines were delivered to the wrong facilities or their arrival was delayed.

In Melbourne, Fronditha Care told Neos Kosmos that it had yet to receive delivery of the vaccine but that it was preparing staff and clients for the rollout.

A spokesman said that: “Fronditha Care expects to be contacted over the next few weeks by Public Health authorities to confirm the actual dates of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in our facilities for both residents and staff.

“In preparation we are informing residents, family members and staff about the proposed rollout in our facilities and being proactive in collecting all the necessary documentation from those who choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We are also making necessary arrangements in all facilities to ensure we have appropriate safety measures in place,  including additional clinical staff, for administering the vaccine.”

The chairman of St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Victoria, Fr Evmenios Vasilopoulos said: “St Basil’s is awaiting further direction and advice from the government about its vaccination rollout. We will notify our community when this occurs.”