Doctors across western Sydney have said their patients are “confused” and “frustrated” by conflicting advice from state and federal governments on the AstraZeneca vaccine.
They also say that authorities need to present a more unified position on the vaccine, to improve the speed of the rollout, and to communicate health advice in different languages to better combat vaccine hesitancy in the region.
Dr Hani Bittar, from the Richmond Road Family Practice in Glendenning, told Guardian Australia members of his local community were confused and hesitant about the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“There is no doubt that minority groups are very confused and very against AstraZeneca, and most of them are not getting it, at least not in my practice, they want to wait for Pfizer.”
He said his patients were most concerned about reports the AstraZeneca vaccine caused blood clotting in a small number of cases, and their fears were being exacerbated by media reporting.
“The instances of clotting is higher with a range of other issues than with the vaccine, but the question is always ‘what if I’m the one in 100,000? What if it’s me?’”
“Usually, when there’s another case of clotting on the front pages, you know the next morning you’ll have lots of cancellations. And that has happened multiple times.”
Bittar said the disagreements between state governments and the federal government on whether under-40s should get the AstraZeneca vaccine had increased demand for the Pfizer vaccine.
“I talk to community leaders, and they all want Pfizer. Today I spoke to three priests, they’re all above 60 and they all want Pfizer.
“So, when a priest or an imam, if he is telling his congregation that Pfizer is better, they will all believe him rather than believe the government.
“I think authorities should talk to each other, and come as a unified front and forget about Labor and Liberal, because they caused this confusion.”
It comes after the co-chair of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) said last week the AstraZeneca vaccine should be considered for under-40s only in rare circumstances and Dr Jeannette Young, the Queensland chief health officer, insisted under-40s in her state should not get AstraZeneca.
These statements came after the prime minister, Scott Morrison, suggested those under 40 could now begin approaching their GPs to get AstraZeneca.
Dr Fariha Dib, from Lakemba Family HealthCare, said much of the hesitancy she sees from community members stems from the way medical advice is being communicated.
“There’s definitely less confidence in the vaccines, and in the rollout, but I think it’s to do with the way the media is communicating the information, and the way politicians are communicating it,” Dib said.
“I think there’s a misrepresentation with regards to the risk and the magnitude of the risk associated with the Covid vaccine.
“But once you give the community the correct education and explain the risk versus benefits, a lot of them are either willing to think about it or proceed with the vaccine on the spot.”
Dib said in the immediate aftermath of the conflicting medical advice, many of her patients also cancelled their vaccination appointments.
“Everyone is confused, even some health professionals are also confused. Because the information is changing, the situation is very dynamic.”
“We should have had many more people vaccinated by now. If they had taken a slightly less political approach to it, and tried to deliver the vaccine widely through GPs, I think we’d be in a better position.”
She also said that communities from non-English speaking backgrounds were “way behind” the vaccine uptake of other communities.
“I think in terms of vaccine uptake, the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities are way behind, and part of it is to do with having less education in these communities, as well as a language barrier.”
Dr Michael Burke, a GP based in Blacktown, told Guardian Australia that although there were still many questions about the AstraZeneca vaccine, there had been more uptake of the vaccine during Greater Sydney’s lockdown.
“In the last two weeks there has been much greater concern and an urgency to get vaccinated, and that has pushed people to come forward and seek what is available.”
Burke said that despite the conflicting advice, many in the community had come forward seeking advice on what was best for them.
“The population has moved from wanting to wait to now recognise that they really need to do something, but they then run into a situation where it’s less clear what they should do, but rather than just waiting, they are trying to actively seek out advice.”
Like Bittar and Dib, Burke said media attention on the side-effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine would result in fewer people coming forward seeking advice.
“But I think it’s swung again, and now people are recognising the importance of getting vaccinated and recognising that the benefits far outweigh the risks.”
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