COVID-19 update – 15 September 2021

15 September 2021

COVID-19 cases in the region

Over the past two weeks to 12 September 2021 there have been 3822 locally acquired cases in the CESPHN region, a 43% increase over the previous period. The largest concentrations are in the following Local Government Areas (LGAs) Canterbury-Bankstown (1094), Sydney (683) Bayside (376) Georges River (373), Randwick (345), Inner West (265), Strathfield (204), Sutherland (197) and Canada Bay (124).

Click here for all the latest information relating to the NSW outbreak Including case locations and alerts.

COVID-19 testing locations

See here for information on the latest testing locations. 

Vaccination update and locations

Within the region 77% of the population aged 15 and over have received one vaccine dose and 47% are fully vaccinated. 23% of the population remain unvaccinated. The number of vaccinations administered last week decreased by 33% from the previous week. Vaccination uptake is lowest in Randwick and Sydney LGAs. You can view vaccination uptake by postcode and local government area here.

You can find vaccination options via the Vaccine Eligibility Checker.

For this week only there are walk in AstraZeneca vaccination clinics at:

• Caringbah, Senior Citizens Centre, 276-382 Pork Hacking Road, Caringbah | Monday 13 September – Friday 17 September, 10.00 am – 4.00 pm (Returning 4 weeks later, 11-15 October).
• Daceyville, 26A Bunnerong Road, Daceyville | Monday 13 September – Friday 17 September, 9.30 am – 3.00 pm

There are also mobile vaccination clinics offering Pfizer for people 16-59 years at:

• Riverwood, Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre, 150 Belmore Road North, Riverwood | 10am – 4pm, 14, 15 and 16 Septemberhttps://bit.ly/mycovaxvc29
• Burwood, Club Burwood, 96 Shaftesbury Road, Burwood | Wednesday 15 September – Thursday 16 September, 10.00am – 4.00pmhttps://bit.ly/mycovaxvc22

In support of a state-wide push to improve vaccination rates for Aboriginal people, there are a number of dedicated vaccination clinics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their household members 12 years and over. 

The clinics will be open from 10.00 am -4.00 pm.

• Redfern (13-18, 23-25 September, 30 September – 2 October), National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE), 166-180 George Street, REDFERN https://vaccination.slhd.nsw.gov.au/vc/RedfernNCIE/9?fbclid=IwAR1Sa2xwsrryuW8iVw7QTkhBi4GcKNI6UIeoR5Nlrd1z7JkKLKzM3LI7-OY
• Surry Hills (18 –19 September):Northcott Community Centre, 163 Devonshire Street, SURRY HILLSOr 43 Buckingham Street Surry Hills (at the Flourish Centre)https://forms.office.com/r/UVprX6fYKWNote: that service will accept walk ins 
• Sutherland (18-19 September):Stapleton Avenue Community CentreEnter on Belmont Street, SUTHERLAND

CESPHN Vax at Home program

We are aware that some people in our community may not be able to access a GP or vaccination hub to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.  As a result CESPHN in partnership had developed the Vax at Home program.

The CESPHN Vax at Home Program is ONLY for those people who are housebound and not able to leave their house to receive a COViD-19 vaccination (their carers will also be able to be vaccinated).   The Program is being offered across Sydney Local Health District and South Eastern Local Health District.   

Referrals:

Patient self-referrals will not be accepted. Patients should speak with their GP for referral to this program if appropriate.

Referrals can be accepted from General Practitioners and Disability Provider Organisations only.

Referrals for people who live in the Sydney Local Health District can be emailed to SLHD-AHCCR-InreachClinic@health.nsw.gov.au

Referrals for people who live in the South East Sydney Local Health District can be emailed to vaxinhomesesydney@gmail.com

Referrals should include:

• Name of patient
• Date of Birth
• Patients residential address and contact details
• Name of usual GP
• Medicare details
• Contact details of any carers.

This service is now operational and accepting referrals (please note there might be some delays as we respond to demand).

Do you require additional AstraZeneca doses?

If your practice requires additional AstraZeneca doses, please email coronavirus@cesphn.com.au. Some practices have an oversupply and we will ensure these additional doses reach those practices that need it.

Additional PPE available

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) packages including surgical and N95/P2 masks, face shields, gloves, gowns and goggles and face shields will be made available forcommunity pharmacies and those GPs who continue to see their patients within their practices. PPE guidelines can be found here.CESPHN will continue to distribute these supplies.To order PPE for your practice or pharmacyclick here.

Everyone aged over 12 is now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination

From 13 September 2021, everyone in Australia aged 12 and over can receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder has been updated to allow this age group to book vaccinations at participating clinics. 

COVID-19 cases released from isolation not requiring further swabbing to attend work

COVID-19 cases who have been in isolation whilst infectious are released from isolation once they are no longer considered infectious. Based on the advice in the current Communicable Disease Network Australia (CDNA) guidelines CDNA COVID-19 SoNG, routine additional swabbing post-release from isolation is unnecessary and not recommended. This document is updated regularly, and the latest version can always be found here. 

Once cases have met at least one of the CDNA criteria for release from isolation, they can leave isolation and go back to regular life including work (as long as they meet lockdown rules). This includes returning to high-risk settings as a worker, resident/client, or visitor. Cases are not required to undergo a further swab and obtain a negative result prior to doing so. Indeed, CDNA recommends that they do NOT undergo further swabbing UNLESS they re-develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19. 

Call for GPs, pharmacists,nurses and other health professionals to assist in vaccination

We are maintaining a register of GPs, pharmacists, nurses and other allied health professionals who are available to work shifts in COVID vaccination clinics. Please complete this form if you are interested. Thank you to all those of you have already registered.

COVID-19 vaccination training updates

Significant updates have occurred in the COVID-19 vaccination training program on Friday 10 September. Module progress and completion have not been affected.You are expected to login and view the new information. A summary of the updates can be found in the COVID-19 Training Announcement Board. 

Note:Three videos have been uploaded in this update showing how to prepare a vaccine dose from a multi-dose vial and how to dilute the Pfizer vaccine. These videos can be found in Module 4 and the Pfizer additional module.

COVID-19 vaccination in workplaces 

Vaccination providers will be able to seek accreditation to administer COVID-19 vaccines at workplaces – similar to the way flu vaccines are administered – through the Request for Tender – Vaccine Administration Partners Program. 

Businesses will be able to team up with vaccination providers to administer COVID-19 vaccines to staff at their workplace. The Vaccine Administration Partners Program will establish a panel of accredited COVID-19 vaccination providers that can be accessed by government entities, businesses and other organisations to support vaccination priorities.

Free infection control advice

CESPHN is pleased to offer general practices and community pharmacies the opportunity to have a specialised one-on-one consultation session with an experienced primary care infection control educator. This consult will enable your practice/pharmacy to:

• Send questions prior to the consultation session about your practice
• Ask questions on infection control that relates to your practice.

Sessions will be via ‘Zoom’ and will be up to 50 minutes in duration and can be recorded for later use. The aim of these sessions is to support practices and community pharmacies to  ensure they have the strongest infection  procedures in place, and provide tips for improvement where needed. If you would like more information or would like to book a consultation, please email your interest to coronavirus@cesphn.com.au and in the subject line write: “Yes I would like infection control advice”

NDIA information sessions

The NDIA invites participants, their families and support networks to an information session about COVID-19 in NSW:

• 21 September, 12.00pm – https://www.ndis.gov.au/events/6800-online-nsw-and-act-covid-19-information-sessions
• 21 September, 7.00pm – https://www.ndis.gov.au/events/6801-online-nsw-and-act-covid-19-information-sessions
• 28 September, 12.00pm – https://www.ndis.gov.au/events/6802-online-nsw-and-act-covid-19-information-sessions
• 28 September, 7.00pm – https://www.ndis.gov.au/events/6803-online-nsw-and-act-covid-19-information-sessions

Grief and trauma support and advice for the aged care sector

COVID-19 has impacted many people living and working in aged care. The Australian Government has funded mental health, grief, trauma, and education experts to produce online resources and training and support you either in-person or on the phone. Click here for more information.

Resources:

• ‘Impacted by COVID-19 in aged care?’ brochure, in 64 languages and an Indigenous design
• ‘Impacted by COVID-19? Help is available’ poster, in 11 languages
• Trauma fact sheets (available across 8 languages): download from the Phoenix Australia Trauma & Aged Care Support and Information hub or order in print at no cost using the resources order form.
• Grief fact sheets (available in 6 languages): Download from the Aged Care Grief and Bereavement Support websiteor order in print at no cost using the resources order form.

Webinars

COVID-19 vaccine live stream update for GPs. The panel will provide latest key updates and answer participants’ questions live about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. 

Details: Thursday 16 September, 11:30am (AEDT) | Click link to join

Catch up on previous webinars 

RACGP webinars: 

Community based care for COVID-19 infections

Details: Monday 20 September, 7.00pm to 8.00pm  Register here

Medico-legal issues for practices and the COVID-19 vaccine program

Details: Tuesday 28 September, 7.00pm to 8.00pm  Register here