There are now cases of COVID-19 linked to the Bondi cluster. Click here for all the latest information relating to the NSW outbreak including case locations and alerts. There are many venues listed across the region with concentrations in Bondi Junction, Vaucluse, Sydney city and Drummoyne.
See here or check our website for information on the latest testing locations within the region. Numerous new pop-up clinics have been established and anyone with symptoms or who has been to identified case locations should get tested.
PPE guidelines were amended on 10 June and can be found here. To order masks for your practice click here. We are also doubling mask orders to ensure general practice and other primary care providers have adequate masks for their practice.
We would also like to remind all general practices of the importance of encouraging those aged 60 and over to receive the Astra Zeneca vaccine and for those who have had their first dose with no serious adverse events to come back for their second dose to ensure greater protection from COVID-19.
CESPHN webinar: 30 June
Join us for a one-hour webinar next Wednesday 30 June at 7.00 pm on the COVID-19 outbreak and key challenges. Speakers will include Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Acting Director South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit, providing the latest information on the current outbreak, and Dr Brendan Goodger from CESPHN providing an update on the vaccine rollout in this region.
On 17 June, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation announced new recommendations relating to the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Pfizer is now the preferred vaccine for those aged 16 to under 60 years (previously 50 years). The recommendation has been revised due to the higher risk and observed severity of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) related to the use of AstraZeneca in Australia in the 50-59 age group.
People aged 50-59 who are booked for their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine should be offered the Pfizer vaccine instead of AstraZeneca. All people who are offered AstraZeneca should be advised of the risk of TTS, the symptoms to watch out for in the 4-30 days post-vaccine and when to seek medical advice.
Symptoms of TTS include new onset of:
Persistent headaches with or without changes in vision, other focal neurology or seizure-like activity
Persistent abdominal pain
Leg swelling or pain with or without associated colour change
Chest pain and/or shortness of breath (without a clear alternative cause)
Following the recent Expression of Interest, 80 general practices will begin administering the Pfizer vaccine in the region over the next month. We expect additional practices to commence administering the vaccine in the coming months as vaccine supply increases.
New MBS patient assessment items
From 18 June 2021, the Australian Government introduced two new MBS (10660 and 10661) to support General Practitioners and Other Medical Practitioners to provide in-depth clinical assessments of patients aged 50 years and over regarding patients’ individual health risks and benefits associated with receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
MBS items 10660 and 10661 may only be claimed where a GP or OMP attends to a patient in person for more than 10 minutes.
The item must be billed in association with a relevant MBS COVID-19 vaccine suitability assessment item.
Consistent with the other MBS vaccine suitability assessment items, items 10660 and 10661 must be bulk-billed
Further information on the In-depth Patient Assessment items is provided in theItem descriptors and Fact Sheet.
Addressing vaccine hesitancy
The Conversation published an article last week with some helpful statistics and graphics that may be useful in discussions with patients around vaccine hesitancy.
“Two people in Australia have died from TTS after 3.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine delivered. This makes the likelihood of dying from this syndrome about 0.5 in a million, or if you prefer whole numbers, about 1 in 2 million.”
The below graph shows the risk of dying from a TTS blood clot after a dose of AstraZeneca, compared to the risk of death from activities such as a car accident or lighting strike.
Maroubra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) is now open The Maroubra Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) is now open, seven days a week, from 8.00am to 8.00pm. It was officially launched by member for Kingsford Smith, the hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP (pictured at the launch with CESPHN CEO Nathalie Hansen…
Media Release: Central and Eastern Sydney PHN releases Healthy Ageing Strategy to empower older people In response to the increasing longevity and rapid growth of the older population the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN) is proud to release its new Healthy Ageing Strategy 2023-2028. This comprehensive strategy…
Immunisation Weekly Update: COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccine onboarding The Australian Government has accepted the latest advice from ATAGI on the use of the new COVID-19 XBB 1.5 vaccine as part of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Program. All sites currently participating in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program will be onboarded for the three…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Increase in COVID-19 infection cases ATAGI notes a recent increase in COVID-19 cases since November 2023 across Australia and encourages all eligible people who have not yet had their recommended 2023 COVID-19 vaccine dose/s to receive them as soon as possible. A first 2023 dose is recommended…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Vaccination coverage in RACF Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) data suggests that only 36% of people aged 70+ living in the central and eastern Sydney PHN region are immunised against Pneumococcal diseases. Immunisation providers are reminded to check AIR immunisation history statements of patients going into Residential Aged…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Introduction of Shingrix® to the NIP From 1 November 2023, the shingles vaccine Shingrix® will replace Zostavax® on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule for the prevention of shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia. It will be available for eligible people most at risk of complications from shingles. A…
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) annual requirements Below is a snapshot of the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for doctors, these include annual requirements of: completion of a Professional Development Plan 50 hours CPD each year, split across a range of activities: 25 hours – reviewing performance and measuring outcomes (with five hours minimum…
CESPHN’s Annual Report 2022-23 is now live Central and Eastern Sydney PHN has released its Annual Report 2022-23. The Annual Report is a summary of the key achievements and highlights for the PHN over the financial year. It is split into Improving Care Integration, Improving Practice and Commissioning Services to…