COVID-19 update – 25 August 2021

25 August 2021

NSW COVID-19 outbreak

There are now 14,673 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in NSW reported since 16 June 2021. Click here for all the latest information relating to the NSW outbreak including case locations and alerts. Over the past two weeks to 22 August 2021 there have been 1124 locally acquired cases in the CESPHN region. The largest concentrations are in the following Local Government Areas (LGAs) Canterbury-Bankstown (455), Bayside (143) Georges River (124), Sydney (75), Strathfield (72), Randwick (60) and Inner West (58).

See here or check our website for information on the latest testing locations and new community pop up vaccination locations.

Vaccination rollout progress in our region

In the last week, CESPHN estimates an additional 94,221 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered to people living in the CESPHN region. Of these additional doses, 36 per cent were AstraZeneca vaccines and 64 per cent were Pfizer vaccines. 

You can view vaccination uptake by postcode here. 

Additional PPE available 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) packages including surgical and N95/P2 masks, gloves, gowns and goggles will be made available for community 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 pharmacy click here. 

Vaccination update for GPs: Message from Dr Kerry Chant

NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, distributed a letter to GPs on 24 August. Click here to read the full letter.The key points include: 

• Childcare workers and disability support workers who live or work in an LGAof concern are required to have at least their first dose of a vaccine by Monday 30 August. Priority bookings are available at NSW Health clinics.
• Authorised workers who live in an LGA of concern but work outside their LGA are only permitted to work if COVID-19 rapid antigen testing is implemented at their work-site or they have had their first dose of a vaccine by Monday 30 August. Priority bookings are available at NSW Health clinics.
• From 30 September, all staff who work for NSW Health or in a private health facilitywill be required to be vaccinated. Staff will need have the first dose by 30 September 2021 and be fully vaccinated by 30 November 2021. 
• ​Based on advice from ATAGI and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, pregnant women are a priority group and should be routinely offered Pfizer vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.  

Priority COVID-19 vaccinations for 16-39 year olds in areas of concern

People aged 16-39 years who live in a LGA of concern (Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield and Penrith) are now eligible to book a priority appointment for the Pfizer vaccine. 

SLHD Vaccine Appointment Finder

Sydney Local Health District has a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Finder for both the below groups:

• Those aged 16-39 who live in LGAs of concern (priority bookings)
• Anyone over the age of 18 (general availability appointments)

Click here to find an appointment now.

Increase COVID-19 vaccination among Aboriginal people in NSW

All Aboriginal people 12 years and over are eligibleand a priority population for COVID-19 vaccination, yet the current vaccination rate among Aboriginal people in NSW is significantly lower than non-Aboriginal people. Outbreaks affecting Aboriginal communities across NSW have increased the urgency for vaccination.NSW Health has provided a few practical steps you can take to encourage and increase COVID-19 vaccination rates among Aboriginal people in your community. Click here to learn more.

New service: Free specialist infection control consultation session for general practices and community pharmacies

Would your practice/pharmacy like to:

• Have a specialist in primary care infection control review your clinic’s infection control procedure?
• Know the procedures that will reduce the risk of COVID-19?

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”.

Final call out:scholarship for Authorised Nurse Immuniser course

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN is offering registered nurses working in general practice and residential aged care facilities (RACF) within the CESPHN region the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to complete studies to become a qualified authorised nurse immuniser in NSW and administer vaccinations independent of a medical officer. To book your place before the closing deadline, visit our website.

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. 

Disability provider alert

The Department of Health has issued a COVID-19 vaccination – Disability Provider Alert 23 August 2021. This provider alert along with other resources and information about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is available from a dedicated web page for disability service providers on the Department of Health website. The Department of Health will continue to update the following webpage Information for people with disability about COVID-19 vaccines with any new advice on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. 

Find the facts

The NSW Government website has a new page:Find the facts about COVID-19, which provides data on COVID-19 cases, testing and vaccination and includes maps showing case numbers and vaccination rates based on location. 

Communication resources

• Poster with ATAGI advice for all adults to get vaccinated
• Poster encouraging staying at home and getting tested
• Stay Home, Save Lives poster
• Poster about religious services during COVID-19

• Mental health signs and symptoms factsheet
• Looking after your mental health and wellbeing factsheet
• Where to go for help and support factsheet

All resources are available in a range of languages.