A medical indemnity insurer has called for calm after reports that the swine flu vaccine rollout next month will be too risky for insurers.

Daily media last week highlighted reports that potential cross-infection from multi-dose vials and problems with the vaccine itself could make doctors uninsurable and therefore unable to give flu shots.

But Medical Insurance Group Australia CEO Mandy Anderson says she’s confident a workable arrangement can be sorted out. She says her company will make its position clear soon.

“There is time for things to be sorted before the vaccine rollout,” she told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“We’ve been in lots of discussions with the Federal Government on a whole range of issues, which are actually about understanding a little bit more about what they’re doing, and how the rollout’s going to happen.”

Reaction from other medical indemnity insurers has been mixed, with the Medical Indemnity Industry Association of Australia reportedly saying insurers need to decide for themselves how they will handle the risks.

On ABC Radio, Australian Medical Association President Andrew Pesce called on the Government to underwrite doctors’ liability.