Medics have warned of a "perfect bottleneck" hampering the supply and delivery of COVID-19 booster shots, after a "surge in demand" following the emergence of the Omicron variant and a shortening of the interval between vaccine doses.
Both GP and pharmacist representatives have told 9News of growing issues in the rollout, from running out of jabs to not having enough staff to give them out.
Dr Anita Munoz, the Victorian chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said its members are raising alarm bells, after the gap between the second dose and a booster was narrowed to five months, down from six.
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She said there are problems with ordering, delivery and supply of enough shots, especially over the festive period.
"Yes, general practitioners can boost their patients and have the capacity… the issue that's concerning everyone is logistics," Dr Munoz said.
"All of a sudden the recommendation changes and is brought forward by an entire month and many practices have found themselves with insufficient supply.
"It's created a perfect bottleneck."
She said getting more doses is taking around a month even during more normal times, leaving GPs "frustrated."
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Dr Munoz said members feel the initial issues with the nation's vaccination rollout are being repeated, and with kids as young as five due to start getting jabbed from January, they'll be under even more pressure.
They also fear people who've had initial doses at a state vaccination hub will turn to GPs for their booster.
"There's been a hope that mistakes we learned from during the year would not be repeated, this feels like a deja vu," she said.
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Dr Munoz said they've even been contacted by members who feel they can't continue giving jabs, and have struggled to break even on costs.
While GPs are paid a set amount for each vaccine they deliver, the RACGP has continually said it's not enough.
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Similarly, pharmacy bosses say they they've seen an "unpredictable, exponential surge in demand" for boosters.
They say shortening the interval for boosters has seen 1.5 million Australians added to the 2.3 million people already eligible.
A spokesman for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) said many are now fully booked until mid January, with some running out of jabs.
He says many have ordered emergency batches which should arrive before Christmas.
However, the issue could be getting staff to give them.
"It could be a case of no available stock or not enough workforce to administer the vaccine and open up bookings," he said.
Priceline, one of the bigger chains providing vaccinations, said stores are able to share supplies and people should check online where they are available.
Mel Gannon, Priceline's national pharmacy support manager, said "most stores" have Pfizer or Moderna, or both.
Meanwhile, doctors group the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has also blasted the booster rollout.
AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said the AMA is "extremely concerned" about what it says is a "lack of support" for GPs and pharmacies giving jabs.
"By the end of this month, close to four million people will be eligible for the booster, however, in the last week Australia has only been able to administer just over 210,000 booster doses," he said.
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However, former Australian deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth blasted the AMA's comments.
"Three weeks into the omicron variant, the peanut gallery decides we're behind again," he tweeted.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said two million Aussies are eligible for COVID-19 boosters and the interval period is being reviewed "every week".
Mr Morrison said one million vaccines were "in the distribution system".
"We've got ample supply of vaccines, there's one million out there right now," he said.
"The interval of the duration… is set on the basis of the advice of ATAGI."
Mr Morrison said there were enough jabs should that be shortened further.
The Australian Government said almost one million people have had a booster.
"Supply is not an issue and there are sufficient doses to ensure all Australians who are eligible for a booster dose can receive it as soon as they are eligible," a spokesman said.
Figures show currently just over four million people are eligible.
In January, 2022, another 3.4m will be due a booster.
That rises to four in February and 4.5m in March.
