The government is facing a growing backlash from GPs over its COVID vaccination plans – with demands for improved compensation, it has been claimed.

One GP group says that practices may be reluctant to become involved if they are uncertain that the high costs of setting up vaccine centres will be repaid. Meanwhile local medical committees at the weekend voted for renegotiation of the fees offered for vaccination.

The government initially said the programme would be delivered almost entirely through practices but has since been developing a parallel programme of vaccination, expected to be staffed by medical students and a range of other staff. The GP part of the programme is due to be delivered through centres set up by primary care networks.

The GP committee of the Doctors’ Association has now warned health secretary Matt Hancock of the risk of practices declining to participate, the Daily Telegraph reports. In a letter to Mr Hancock it has stated: “This is a huge undertaking and poses a significant financial risk to primary care, who will have to shoulder the financial burden. We cannot ask this of GPs when so much is at stake nationally. There needs to be a higher fee to acknowledge the huge ask and realistic costs of this programme.”

Dr Vimesh Patel, from the committee, said: “Many colleagues have huge concerns over the feasibility of this. I hope the profession is strong enough to say no to the arrangements if they are unrealistic.”

A motion agreed by the conference of local medical committees at the weekend deplored the “pace and pressure” imposed on GP negotiators to reach a deal. It rejected single PCN designated sites and called for “vaccine choice”, allowing general practice to deliver at a practice level. It also demanded immediate talks on funding and flexibility attached to the proposed enhanced service “now that timelines and possibilities are better understood.”

British Medical Association GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey told the paper he was “hopeful” that practices would sign up but added: “We cannot do this at the same time as we do all the normal things. There has to be flexibility.”

An NHS spokesman said: “We have had an incredible response from GP teams in every part of the country who want to play their part in delivering a potentially life-saving vaccine. A deal has been reached with the British Medical Association to ensure GPs are able to protect their patients with coronavirus vaccines, including £20 million of setup funding for the vaccination programme alongside £150 million for wider general practice capacity.”