The CEO of the company responsible for administering two overdoses of the COVID-19 vaccine to elderly patients in Queensland has stood aside in the wake of the bungle.
Jason Cartwright, CEO of Healthcare Australia (HCA), has agreed to stand aside on the vaccine rollout after the Commonwealth-contracted company failed to check whether the doctor in question was trained and then misled the government.
Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed during question time today Mr Cartwright was being stood aside while investigations continue.
READ MORE: Company behind vaccine overdoses having 'book thrown at them'
"The secretary for the Department met with and spoke with the CEO initially and with the chair of the company, I'm advised that the CEO was being stood aside as a consequence of the discussions and in particular, the company is installing new management," Mr Hunt said.
Healthcare Australia chairman Daren McKennay confirmed Mr Cartwright had agreed to step aside while the investigation takes place.
"While the review is being finalised, Healthcare Australia CEO Jason Cartwright has agreed to step aside from his role and an interim CEO with extensive experience in the health sector will be imminently appointed," Mr McKennay said in a statement.
"We will also further strengthen the Healthcare Australia management team with additional executive support."
READ MORE: Hunt backtracks, says doctor who gave two elderly patients a vaccine overdose was not trained
An investigation by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd found HCA to be at fault on two counts.
"A mistake was made, a human error, and a serious error, and, of course, we need to learn from these mistakes if they occur," Professor Kidd said.
"This error should not have happened and we apologise to the residents and their families and the carers at the facility for the distress that this has caused."
READ MORE: Queensland premier 'very upset' about vaccine bungle
The patients, a 94-year-old woman and an 88-year-old man, were given a dose of the vaccine thought to be four times the recommended amount.
While a potentially grave error, Mr Hunt said the dosage was not dissimilar to those given during clinical trials.
"Both patients are well. Neither is suffering any adverse effects. The woman will return home to her residential home in the facility after she's had lunch today," he said.
"That was the request of the family. The man will stay in hospital for no other reason other than he was actually admitted in preparation for elective surgery and an appropriate procedure unrelated to this."
READ MORE: Concerns deepen over vaccine rollout in Australia's aged care homes
Professor Kidd said HCA did not meet its contracted requirements with the government.
"This doctor should not have been permitted to carry out these vaccinations without having completed the required training," Professor Kidd said.
"This doctor should not have been permitted to carry out these vaccinations without proof of his completion of training being sighted by the company.
"And this doctor should not have been required to carry out these vaccinations as the sole registered health professional deployed by the company to this site."
HCA Australia has since checked the training requirements for all staff registered to administer the vaccine, and the company has been put on notice that a second breach of contract will see its role terminated.
READ MORE: The vaccine can be stored in a fridge for up to three months
Almost 18,000 Aussies have been vaccinated
Almost 18,000 Australians have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
To date, across the states more than 17,500 vaccination doses have been administered.
A total of 71 aged care facilities have been completed, including 4715 residents.
There has been a 95 per cent take-up rate of the vaccine so far.
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