The Federal Government and insurers have short-circuited a medical indemnity crisis over swine flu vaccinations by developing a special consent form.

The Department of Health and Ageing has confirmed the consent form will be made available only if the vaccine has not received full registration from the Therapeutic Goods Agency in time for the rollout, which is expected to begin within weeks.

There has been concern in the medical indemnity insurance sector about risks in the handling of multi-dose vials and official registration of the vaccine that might have left doctors uninsurable and therefore unable to give shots.

Insurers Avant Mutual and Medical Insurance Group Australia (MIGA) have now joined MDA National and Medical Indemnity Protection Society in confirming coverage.

insuranceNEWS.com.au also sought insurer Invivo Medical Indemnity’s position, but the company did not respond.

MIGA CEO Mandy Anderson says her company is comfortable with its position, having worked with the Government on the consent form.

She says MIGA plans to provide a link on its website for doctors to access guidelines currently under development by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners on how to use multi-dose vials and minimise risk.

Meanwhile, a study by the University of Maryland in the US using animal tests suggest the swine flu virus may overpower other seasonal influenzas and be easier to catch, but found no evidence that it combined with either of two seasonal flu viruses to form new viruses.

A rise in swine flu cases is being reported in the US as children return to school from summer vacation.