부산대학교 도서관

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. General practice is crucial to Australia's national COVID-19 vaccine rollout and routine immunisation program. However, perceived poor communication and rapid policy changes by government and peak bodies were seen to undermine public trust in general practice and precipitate increased COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. General practices reported burdensome, stressful, and poorly remunerated work detrimental to the routine provision of care. Improved communication with and support for general practice is crucial in maintaining high COVID-19 and routine immunisation coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]