COVID-19 weekly update – 25 JANUARY 2023

COVID-19 cases in the region

The number of reported COVID cases in our region has decreased over the last week and there are declines in hospital presentations, and residential aged care facility outbreaks. Infection control and wearing masks (staff and patients) is still critically important in primary care settings.

For further information on the latest number of COVID cases please go to the latest NSW COVID statistics. If you would like information and support on infection prevention and control for your practice, please email: coronavirus@cesphn.com.au

In reach services for residential aged care

On 12 December 2022, the Australian Government launched the National COVID-19 Health Management Plan. This plan recognises that health response measures are still required to protect those most at risk from COVID-19 as the pandemic continues to evolve.

For the next 12 months, COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be principally administered by primary care providers such as general practitioners and pharmacists in residential aged care. However, a number of residential aged care homes (RACHs) have lower than average fourth dose completion. The Department has asked PHNs to facilitate primary care COVID-19 vaccination clinics for this target group of RACHs.

We ask GPs and Pharmacists who visit RACHs to please continue to promote and deliver vaccinations. Please reach out to CESPHN by emailing coronavirus@cesphn.com.au if you need support to vaccinate this older residents in RACHs most at risk from COVID-19.

Please note the new streamlined COVID-19 vaccination payments will come into effect on 1 February 2023 and include an increased flag fall item to support in-reach vaccinations for aged care and disability care residents by primary care vaccination providers.

CESPHN Vax at Home service 

The CESPHN Vax at Home Service is for those people who are housebound and not able to leave their house to receive a COVID-19 vaccination or booster. The service will accept referrals for people 16 years and over. Referrals will be accepted from GPs and from Local Health Districts. Patient self-referrals will not be accepted.

All referrals must be sent through this Vax at Home Service Online Form. Please also indicate if an influenza vaccine is also required. Please note, a referral will need to be attached to the online form. For further information on the program, please contact us. Please note if your referral is urgent service will prioritise accordingly and vaccinations arranged.

Pulse oximeters for your patients 

CESPHN is still providing pulse oximeters – please see details below

• Individual patients – we have access to a small supply of oximeters. GPs with patients they believe require a pulse oximeter urgently are asked to complete this CESPHN Pulse Oximeter online form with the patients details and we will arrange delivery of an oximeter
• General practices – General practices – practices actively seeing moderate risk COVID positive patients can also be sent up to 10 pulse oximeters per practice via the new pulse oximeter general practice online order form.

Update to COVID-19 Administration System (CVAS)

Sites participating in the COVID-19 Vaccine Program can log into CVAS and directly request to activate, reactivate or deactivate access to one or more vaccine products.

Withdrawing from specific vaccines:

• Before making a request to deactivate a vaccine type, sites will need to ensure they have completed a final Stock Management Report and recorded zero stock on hand for the vaccine type they are requesting to be deactivated for. Please note, a request does not guarantee a site will be activated for the requested vaccine type, approval of requests is at the discretion of the Department.

Withdrawing from the program completely:

• If a site would like to withdraw completely from the program, they will need to log into CVAS to request withdrawal from all vaccine types and then contact their local PHN to fully withdraw from the program.

For your site to withdraw from the program, practices must: 

• Have completed a final stock management report and recorded zero stock on hand for all vaccine types they have on hand. 
• Sites can remain deactivated in CVAS but retain access to the site in the event they would like to participate in the program in the future, also known as taking a break. They will not be required to complete any mandatory reporting during this time. This will enable the site to be able to participate in the Program again, should the need arise. 
• Log into the Vaccine Clinic Finder Connect and remove themselves as a vaccine provider from the Vaccine Clinic Finder.

If sites are in need of assistance when requesting either option via CVAS, you can contact the Vaccine Operations Centre (VOC) on 1800 318 208.