Some GPs have much lower vaccination rates among their adult patients than other GPs in the same area.

This report reveals that only about 40 per cent of the older patients of some GPs are vaccinated for flu, but for other GPs the rate is about 90 per cent. For COVID-19, the bottom 5 per cent of GPs have only 16 per cent of their patients aged 65 and older up to date with their vaccinations. That is less than a third of the average GP COVID-19 vaccination rate across Australia of 51 per cent.

GPs with lower vaccination rates typically have more patients who are disadvantaged and struggle with English, but they get less funding because they charge their patients lower fees.

The report calls for a three-pronged national strategy to help GPs do better:

1. The federal government should overhaul the way general practice is funded, to provide more money to GPs in poorer areas with more disadvantaged patients. This would enable those GPs to spend more time with patients to explain and promote vaccination.
2. The 31 Primary Health Networks around Australia should give GPs better data, so GPs can easily see how their vaccination rates compare to other clinics in their area that have similar patients.
3. Primary Health Networks should give GPs with low vaccination rates the extra help they need. That might include new nursing staff to vaccinate patients, extra training, running vaccination drives in GP clinics, or helping patients book a jab at their pharmacy.