There continues to be a decline in the number of COVID cases in our region. Over the past two weeks to 8 November 2021 there have been 502 locally acquired cases in the CESPHN region, a 7 per cent decrease over the previous period. The largest concentrations are in the following Local Government Areas (LGAs) Canterbury-Bankstown (127) and Sydney (89).
Click here for all the latest information relating to the NSW outbreak including case locations and alerts.
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.
Within the region 87% of the population aged 15 and over have received one vaccine dose and 84% are fully vaccinated (a 1% increase from last week). 13% of the population remain unvaccinated.
General practices that need additional Pfizer or Astra Zeneca vaccine should contact our practice support team via coronavirus@cesphn.com.au and we can facilitate transfers.
We are strongly encouraging general practices and pharmacists to review their patients and identify those who are unvaccinated and arrange COVID-19 vaccination for them.
You can find vaccination options via the Vaccine Eligibility Checker. Locations of LHD community vaccination clinics, no booking and no Medicare needed are below:
Bookings are also available at the following vaccination clinics:
Booster vaccinations for COVID-19 are available at the following times and locations for anyone over 18 who had their second dose at least six months ago.
| Day | Location | Time |
| Monday | Northcott Community Centre, Belvoir St, Surry Hills | 10.00 am – 2.00 pm |
| Tuesday | Poet’s Corner, Redfern | 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm |
| Ward Park (Northcott), Belvoir St, Surry Hills | 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm | |
| Walla Mulla Park, Woolloomooloo | 7.15 pm – 9.15 pm | |
| Wednesday | Ward Park (Northcott), Belvoir St, Surry Hills | 1.00 pm – 3.30 pm |
| Walla Mulla Park, Woolloomooloo | 4.00 pm – 5.30 pm | |
| Martin Place, Phillip St, Sydney | 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm | |
| Thursday | Namatjira Place (Community Room), Chifley | 9.30 am – 12.30 pm |
| Kooloora Community Centre, Bilga Crescent, Malabar | 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm | |
| Friday | The Hub, Lexington Place, South Maroubra | 10.00 am – 2.00 pm |
| Saturday | Poet’s Corner, Redfern | 9.00 am – 11.00 am |
| Ward Park (Northcott), Belvoir St, Surry Hills | 11.30 am – 1.00 pm | |
| Walla Mulla Park, Woolloomooloo | 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm | |
| Monday-Friday | The Kirketon Road Centre, above Darlinghurst Fire Station, entrance on Victoria Street, Darlinghurst 2010 | 9.30 am – 5.00 pm (Wednesday 12.00 pm – 5.00 pm) |
The mandatory training modules for COVID-19 vaccination providers have now been updated with new information on COVID-19 booster shots. Log in to the COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program to view updates.
From 8 November 2021, the Australian Government are rolling out a national COVID-19 vaccine booster program for residential aged care through in-reach clinics, and at-risk health staff as these groups who may be due for their booster.
Following the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) approval of the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine as a booster dose for individuals aged 18 years and above, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has indicated that
GPs can contact Aged Care facilities to organise booster doses for residents and health care workers that are 6 months post their second primary course of COVID-19 vaccine. Facilities are responsible for arranging consent from residents. The Australian Government’s consent form has been updated to incorporate consent for boosters.
For more information, go to: COVID-19 booster vaccination program – residential aged care
CESPHN is hosting a webinar this Thursday 7-8.30pm with a focus on the mental health impact of COVID on RACF residents. The webinar will cover support available and the new MBS item numbers. GPs, nurses and allied health professionals are encouraged to register here.
RACGP has extended an invitation to the following upcoming COVID related webinars:
| Title | Date and time | Registration link |
| NSW COVID-19 Update | Monday 15 November 2021, 7.00–8.00 pm | https://racgp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__TXY833jSmW7SYaeLYFfDA |
| COVID-Vaccine rollout: Supporting diverse communities and vaccines for children. | Thursday 25 November 2021, 7.00–8.00 pm | https://racgp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8x5VBWOqTmSv3UsfIGa3qA |
| COVID-19 vaccination update in NSW | Tuesday 30 November 2021, 7.30–8.30 pm | https://racgp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HBI1nd7MTRqBffOyIKvipg |
| Vaccine hesitancy and practice efficiencies | Thursday 2 December 2021, 7.00–8.00 pm | https://racgp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_H4MEz1OrTC-ZOZSVMoFPLw |
Join the latest Commonwealth Department of Health 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 11 November, 11.30 am (AEDT) | Click link to join
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 has 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).
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 and for South Eastern Sydney Local Health District please email vaxinhomesesydney@gmail.com
Referrals should include:
This service is now operational and accepting referrals.
CESPHN is pleased to offer general practices, community pharmacies and allied health 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:
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”.
The Centre for Population Health at NSW Health have developed a new NSW Health webpage containing support for general practice on priority COVID-19 vaccination for Aboriginal people.
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.
NSW Health has released new advice on how to assess risks when people are exposed to a person with COVID-19 in general workplace settings. Find the guidance here. The Australian Government has released guidance for workers in healthcare settings here.
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