Queensland's health minister is seeking urgent assurances from the federal government that it's coronavirus vaccine rollout is safe, after two aged-care residents were given overdoses.
The 88-year-old man and 94-year-old woman are being monitored after being given overdoses of the Pfizer vaccine by a GP employed by a third-party vaccine provider.
They have so far not shown any adverse reactions. The doctor has resigned and investigations are under way to determine how the mistakes happened.
In parliament on Wednesday, Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said she must be able to have faith that federal plans to vaccinate Queenslanders are safe.
"We're seeking assurances from the Commonwealth around the rigour of the training, and also strengthened oversight of the safety systems in the rollout of the vaccine across residential aged-care in Queensland," she told parliament.
"What these incidents highlight is the importance of full transparency and sharing of information from the Commonwealth government about the rollout across the aged-care sector, and also the broader rollout of the vaccine."
St Vincent's Care Services, which runs the Holy Spirit Nursing Home at Carseldine, has expressed grave concerns about the overdoses administered by a GP employed by Healthcare Australia.
"Yesterday was very distressing to us, to our residents and to their families," the group said in a statement.
"It's caused us to question whether some of the clinicians given the job of administering the vaccine have received the appropriate training.
"Before vaccinations are allowed to continue at any of our sites, Healthcare Australia -- or any other provider -- will need to confirm the training and expertise of the clinicians they've engaged so an incident like this doesn't happen again."
St Vincent's Care Services intends to report the GP to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for the error.
Australian Associated Press