Medical insurers have reached out to the Federal Government seeking an “iron clad” assurance that there is an indemnity plan to cover for potential claims and other fallout that may arise from the COVID vaccination program.

Reports of blood clotting in a small number of patients globally who have taken the AstraZeneca jab have triggered concerns within the local GP community and medical insurance providers.

“The COVID-19 mass vaccination program is a large and complex undertaking in a rapidly evolving environment,” an Insurance Council of Australia spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au today.

“The pace and breadth of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines and the Government’s evolving advice in relation to program scope and administration have caused some concern among general insurers providing medical indemnity coverage.

“We are working with the Commonwealth and other stakeholders to better understand aspects of the program and to develop strategies to address these concerns.

“The provision of medical indemnity insurance is a critical component of the vaccine roll out, as it provides support and confidence to medical professionals administering vaccines to patients in this socially important process.”

Verbal assurance is not enough to allay the medical community’s concerns, according to MDA National, an Australia-wide Medical Defence Organisation that provides professional indemnity insurance.

“Never before in history have we attempt to vaccinate 25 million people against a novel virus,” MDA National President Michael Gannon told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“So the reality is that a lot of individual doctors are concerned that they are not protected and we as an industry are very concerned that we are not protected.

“Although we have been given further verbal reassurance by [Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt]… we as an industry don’t believe that gives us sufficient comfort especially as we’re operating in an international reinsurance market competing to place insurance in an environment where organisations in other parts of the world have been indemnified by governments.”

A statement from the office of the Health Minister to insuranceNEWS.com.au says the Government “will continue to work constructively with insurers and the sector and thanks them for their input”.

“The Government provides significant support to underpin medical indemnity arrangements to ensure there is appropriate indemnity support for all health professionals including doctors, nurses, midwives and pharmacists, as well as patients,” the statement says.

“The Government has already entered into indemnity arrangements with vaccine suppliers designed to operate if there are problems which flow from the vaccine itself.”