COVID-19 update – 6 October, 2021

COVID-19 cases in the region

Over the past two weeks to 4 October 2021 there have been 2447 locally acquired cases in the CESPHN region, a 30% decrease over the previous period. The largest concentrations are in the following Local Government Areas (LGAs) Canterbury-Bankstown (535), Sydney (480), Bayside (335), Randwick (297), Georges River (217), Sutherland (162) and Inner West (149).

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

Vaccination update

Within the region 84% of the population aged 15 and over have received one vaccine dose and 68% are fully vaccinated (a 7% increase from last week). 16% of the population remain unvaccinated. The number of vaccinations administered last week decreased by 13% from the previous week. You can view vaccination uptake by postcode and local government area here.

Easing of restrictions – 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination roadmap

NSW is expected to hit the 70 per cent fully vaccinated target this week and from next Monday those who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to have 5 visitors in their home, visit hospitality settings with up to 20 people per booking, access to gyms, indoor recreation and sporting facilities, and non-critical retail re-opens with density limits. See here for more information.

From the Monday after NSW hits the 80 per cent (aged 16 and over) double dose vaccination target, fully vaccinated people will be able to have 10 visitors to their home, participate in community sport and access hospitality venues. All premises will operate at 1 person per 4sqm indoors and 1 person per 2sqm outdoors. The following factsheet provides further details about the roadmap.

As NSW opens up practices are encouraged to contact all their patients aged over 60 years who are not yet vaccinated and encourage them to book in for a vaccine.

COVID-19 testing locations

See here for information on the latest testing locations.

Please remember to refer your patients to a GP respiratory clinic if they need a respiratory assessment. You can find contact details here.

Community vaccination locations

You can find vaccination options via the Vaccine Eligibility Checker.

SESLHD has vaccination clinics open this week. Priority for the Pfizer vaccine will be given to people under 60 years who:

• Live in social housing
• Are experiencing homelessness
• Are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Have disability or significant health problems
• Are not eligible for Medicare e.g. international students

AstraZeneca vaccine is available for anyone 18 years and over.

• Northcott Community Centre

163 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills

9.30 am – 3.00 pm, every Monday plus 6, 7, 8 October

• The Hub @ Lexo

Lexington Place, Maroubra

9.30 am – 3.00 pm, every Friday

• Chifley Vaccination clinic

Namatjira Place, Chifley

9.15am – 12.00 pm, every Thursday

• Stapleton Avenue Community Centre

Belmont Street, Sutherland

Tuesday 5 October – Friday 8 October

10.00 am – 4.00 pm

• Kooloora Community Centre

167 Bilga Crescent, Malabar

Tuesday 5 October – Friday 8 October

9.30 am – 3.00 pm

• Oznam Learning Centre

99 Forbes Street, Woolloomooloo

9.30 am – 4.00 pm every Thursday

Bookings are also available for people from vulnerable groups at two new Aspen Medical vaccination clinics:

• Flourish Australia Centre

43 Buckingham Street, Surry Hills

Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 3.30pm

Book here

• Alf Kay Vaccination Clinic

2 Florence Avenue, Eastlakes

Monday to Friday, 10.00 am to 2.00 pm

Book here

A new vaccination clinic has opened at Centennial Park:

• Centennial Park Vaccination Clinic

22 – 32 King Street Randwick (UNSW Building R14),

The clinic is open from 8:00am – 4:00pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Bookings required.

• Ultimo Community Centre

40 William Henry Street, Ultimo

16-59 year olds

10 .00 am to 4.00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Book here

mRNA vaccines for people over 60

From 1 October 2021 people aged 60 and over can access any brand of COVID-19 vaccine, including the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, at all vaccination sites, regardless of where they live. This means:

• people aged 18+ can access any COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna and Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)); and
• people aged 12+ can access the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.

It is important that high priority and vulnerable cohorts continue to be prioritised for vaccination appointments where possible, such as home care workers, disability support workers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to access a COVID-19 vaccine. See Department of Health statement.

New results portal launched

NSW Health Pathology has launched an online Results Portal to give people a convenient and secure way to access their COVID-19 test result. People who have been tested with NSW Health Pathology can now access their personal report, which can be downloaded and/or printed, and which has a unique QR code. The code can be scanned by an authorised third party such as an employer, school or airline.

You can check out the Results Portal at my.pathology.health.nsw.gov.au and access more information on the NSW Health Pathology website.

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 ONLY being offered across Sydney Local Health District and South Eastern Local Health District.   

• 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 or Pfizer doses?

If your practice requires additional AstraZeneca or Pfizer 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. Similarly if your practice has an oversupply of vaccine please let us know so we can assist with transfers.

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”

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 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.

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.

Home isolation support service

Metro Assist have received a COVID-19 support grant to help people in the 12 LGAs of concern stay at home if they are COVID positive or need to isolate. The team are providing phone-based case-coordination to clients referred from NSW Health, Resilience NSW, Contact Tracers, as well as self-referrals and other NGOs.

If you have any clients that are in isolation due to COVID-19 please contact the team, as they can support clients over the phone, helping people navigate the service system to obtain support they require (specialists services, emergency relief, state and federal payments and supports etc). They also deliver food, medical needs, and other essential supplies to clients.  Please note, this program is for people who are COVID positive or are required to isolate.

Referrals are taken through the general phone line 02 97893744, and email address covid.support@metroassist.org.au.

First Aboriginal COVID-19 vaccination milestone reached, but a gap remains

Thanks to the contribution of general practice, half of all eligible Aboriginal people in NSW their first COVID-19 vaccine by mid-September. But with easing of restrictions in NSW fast approaching, it’s important Aboriginal people aren’t left behind in double-dose vaccination targets. Aboriginal people are at increased risk of acquiring and developing serious illness from COVID-19, yet vaccination rates of Aboriginal people in NSW lag behind non-Aboriginal people, in some areas by up to 30 per cent (first dose coverage). Because of this, Aboriginal people still require priority access to a COVID-19 vaccine.

GPs, practice nurses and practice managers are encouraged to:

• Invite Aboriginal patients and their families to obtain a vaccination, and consider setting aside dedicated vaccination appointments
• Ensure people who enquire about vaccination are given the opportunity to identify as Aboriginal, by asking the question
• Display posters and use social media to encourage vaccination

Click here for more information on these strategies. More information can be found on the CESPHN website.

Children and COVID-19 FAQs

Children aged 12 years and older are recommended to get the COVID-19 vaccine. NCIRS has answered some of the most frequently asked questions about COVID-19 in children, vaccines available in Australia, vaccine safety and schooling. The FAQs are available on the NCIRS website.

COVID-19 live stream update for GPs

Join the latest 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. Get involved by submitting questions and comments!

Details: Thursday 7 October, 11:30am (AEDT) | Click link to join

Catch up on previous webinars 

Upcoming webinars

Management of COVID-19

sday 7 October, 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Register here

RACGP COVID-19 update with Dr Kerry Chant

Monday 11 October 2021, 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Register here

NCIRS webinar: Weighing up the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccination: a focus on safety

Consider the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination and learn strategies for discussions to support your patients, friends and family in making decisions.

Wednesday 13 October 2021, 12.30 pm – 2.00 pm AEDT

Register here

RACGP Infection control and post COVID-19 care

Monday 18 October, 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Register here

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