COVID-19 update – 31 March 2021

31 March 2021

COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

 This marks the second week of the Phase 1b roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination, with another 29 general practices commencing administration of the vaccine this week and a further 90 to start next week. The GP respiratory clinics in our region are also providing vaccine clinics:

Belmore Medical Respiratory Clinic
481 Burwood Road, Belmore
9am -1pm (Monday to Friday)Open Easter long weekend
Bookings:https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/belmore-NSW-2192/belmore-respiratory-clinic/doctors 
02 9740 3211

Bondi Junction Respiratory Clinic
47 Spring St, Bondi Junction
1pm-4pm (Monday to Saturday)Closed Easter long weekend
Bookings:https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/bondi-junction-NSW-2022/bondi-junction-respiratory-clinic/doctors 
02 9194 2788

Lakemba GP Respiratory Clinic
96 Haldon St, Lakemba
9am -6pm (7 days per week)Closed Easter long weekend
Bookings:https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/book/appointment/patient?clinic=4421&purpose=covid-vaccine 
02 9758 9848

Sydney West COVID Vaccine Centre
Suite 203, 5 Australia Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127
2pm -8pm M-Fri 8am-2pm SaturdaysClosed Easter long weekend
Bookings: www.sydwestvac.com.au  
Link to information card 
02 9771 2622

Access to vaccines for under 18s 

The TGA has not approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged under 18 and so people under 18 should not attend primary care vaccine provider sites even if they meet other Phase 1b criteria. While Pfizer is approved for those over 16, discussions are underway with the states and territories around access to this and they are currently prioritising the 1a population. 

COVID-19 vaccines multicultural information  

The Department of Health has published a stakeholder pack with key information about COVID-19 vaccines, tailored to multicultural communities. The pack provides translated information on the roll-out of the vaccine in Australia and the importance of continuing to practice COVID-safe behaviours.

  Click here (1.11 MB) to view the stakeholder pack.

RACFs and the COVID-19 vaccine 

53 Residential Aged Care Facilities in the central and eastern Sydney region have received the first dose of vaccine and six have received the second.

COVID-19 vaccine information for disability service providers

People with disability living in residential accommodation with two or more people with disability and workers providing support to them are eligible for the vaccine as part of Phase 1a. See herefor information and resources to help plan for the vaccine roll-out.

Vaccine messaging

All healthcare professionals and community organisations have a role to play in providing information about the vaccine. Click here for everything you need to know around the COVID-19 vaccine in Australia. This website also includes vaccine information in multiple languages.

NSW COVID-19 update

If you have been to the Brisbane or Moreton Bay areas since 11 March, visit the Queensland Health website for information. If you arrive in NSW on or after midnight on 27 March, you must complete a self-declaration form. If you have been to an area of high concern, you may enter NSW only if you are a NSW resident and you must immediately get tested and self-isolate. 

If you have been to the below locations during the time and date indicated, you are a close contact and must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days.

Close contact 

If you have been to the below locations during the time and date indicated, you are a casual contact and must get tested immediately and self-isolate until you get a negative result.

Casual contact 

Visit the NSW Health website for more information. 

COVID-19 near me

If you want to check locations visited by COVID-19 cases near you the following website offers a helpful interactive map: https://covid19nearme.com.au/state/nsw

Resources  

 We encourage health professionals to ensure they are across recently published resources around COVID-19 vaccinations, See the below for the latest COVID-19 resources:

• Consolidated general information for vaccine providers
• Consolidated clinical information
• Combating myths and misinformation surrounding vaccines: Is it true?
• Information on COVID-19 Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine
• After your Pfizer (Cormirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine
• After your AstraZeneca vaccine
• Information on COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine
• Preparing for COVID-19 vaccination
• Poster on who to call for questions and support relating to COVID-19: Who to call (in 35 languages)
• Information about NSW hotel quarantine worker surveillance and testing program: Quarantine workers, in 7 languages