COVID-19 update – 7 April 2021

7 April 2021

Weekly update: COVID-19 vaccine roll-out

We are in week three of the COVID-19 Phase 1b rollout with an additional 90 practices commencing Astra-Zeneca vaccinations this week in the region.

All practices taking part in the Phase 1b rollout are reminded to submit vaccine orders a fortnight in advance. The ordering period closes on Friday evening. Please ensure that your order has gone through on the portal and if you experience any issues contact the Vaccine Operations Centre on 1800 318 208.

Updated ATAGI advice on AZ vaccine and blood clotting

ATAGI advice has been updated in light of a specific clotting condition being reported after COVID-19 vaccination. There may be a link between the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca and rare cases of thrombosis associated with thrombocytopenia. See below for the most up to date links:

Provider guide for obtaining informed consent:
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-atagi-immunisationprovider-guide-to-obtaining-informed-consent-for-covid-19-vaccine

Consent form for COVID-19 vaccination:
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-consent-form-for-covid-19-vaccination

Consumer information on the AstraZeneca vaccine:
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-information-on-covid-19- astrazeneca-vaccine

Information for after your AstraZeneca vaccine:
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-after-your-astrazeneca-vaccine

For guidance on how to report adverse events please goto:
https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/health-professionals/reporting-and-managing-adverse-vaccination-events#how-to-report-an-aefi

Vaccine Eligibility Checker

The Vaccine Eligibility Checker is designed to provide an easy way to determine eligibility. There have been over 3.1 million sessions on the tool. 

Recent updates include:

• Register your interest – people not yet eligible to be vaccinated can enter contact information and be notified when they are eligible (based on the information they have provided)
• 10 languages – the Eligibility Checker and Register your interest features are provided in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Punjabi, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Turkish, Vietnamese as well as English. The languages have been chosen as they are the most widely spoken or have the lowest English proficiency languages according to the 2016 Australian Census data.
• State-based variations are included where required
• Pop-up information provides detail to help users determine their eligibility
• User-friendly interface, currently undergoing vision-impaired accessibility enhancement
• Seamless booking of an appointment at a vaccination clinic nearby or option to choose by first-available appointment.

COVID-19 update webinar

The RACGP will be running a NSW COVID-19 webinar on Monday 12 April at 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm AEDT. There will be updates from:

• RACGP NSW&ACT’s A/Prof Charlotte Hespe and A/Prof Penny Burns
• NSW Health’s Dr Kerry Chant, Chief Health Officer and Deputy Secretary
• NCIRS’ Dr Ketaki Sharma, Staff Specialist 

Click here to register for the upcoming webinar.

A recording of the recent webinar from 15 March can be found at this link. 

Future phases of vaccine rollout 

We expect opportunities to open up for more general practices and pharmacies to participate in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. If you are considering undertaking COVID-19 vaccinations in the next phase of the national COVID-19 rollout and would like to understand what might be required, please contact the Practice Support and Development Team on 1300 986 991 or email  practicesupport@cesphn.com.au

Here are some suggestions for helping your practice/pharmacy to get ready for undertaking COVID vaccinations:

• Completing the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory online training modules – your administration staff can also complete modules that are relevant for them
• Upskilling in Anaphylaxis administering – Anaphylaxis – online training module
• Ensuring your Cold Chain Management procedures are up to date and all your relevant staff are trained in this.  HETI online training:https://nswhealth.seertechsolutions.com.au/public_content/HETICP/HETI/CCMWebv3/story_html5.html
• Ensuring your relevant staff such as GPs, Practice Nurses and Practice Managers have a PRODA account. CESPHN can help you with this.

Completing the online training may also help when answering questions from patients who may have had the vaccine elsewhere.

NSW COVID-19 update

There are areas of increased testing in the following LGAs: Ballina, Byron Bay, Lismore and Tweed.

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

Please check NSW Health website for casual contact locations requiring people to get tested.

Visit the NSW Health website for more information. 

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.

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