Immunisation weekly update – 21 April 2021

21 April 2021

Introducing our new immunisation pop quiz!

Test your COVID-19 vaccine knowledge in this week’s Pop Quiz focusing on: Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine storage.

Share quiz with your colleagues for a fun challenge, or as an activity at your next staff meeting!

Uploading shared health summaries to My Health Record

Proof of eligibility for Phase 1b 

Patients will need to prove their eligibility to receive the COVID 19 vaccine in Phase 1b.

A patient’s My Health Record can help to provide proof of eligibility for accessing COVID-19 vaccines in our current Phase 1b of the roll out. 

Uploading Shared Health Summary to My Health Record can make the process easier for patients and general practices administering COVID-19 vaccines.

Who is eligible for Phase 1b? List of eligible underlying medical conditions (see page 10-11)

Practices NOT currently participating in Phase 1b rollout

Practices who are not currently participating in Phase 1b COVID-19 vaccine rollout may be asked by their patients to provide proof so they can access the vaccine from another practice. The following records may be relied upon as evidence:

• My Health Record – Shared Health Summary
• a written referral from GP
• a printout of an individual’s medical history, or chronic disease care plan

The easiest way for the practice to do this (and to meet one of the requirements for ePIP at the same time) is to upload a Shared Health Summary to the patients My Health Record.  This can then be accessed by the vaccine clinic, as well as be seen by the patient (via MyGov) if they need to provide any details of their illness or eligibility.

How do I upload a Shared Health Summary?  Click below for a simple demonstration:

• Best Practice
• Medical Director

Practices participating in Phase 1b rollout

Practices should confirm that proof of eligibility meets one of the accepted types for the first dose and make a simple record of proof. This is not required for the second dose as long as the first dose is registered in Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

If you are providing a COVID-19 vaccine to a patient who does not regularly attend your practice, you can access the information within the My Health Record to check for any medical history, allergies or medication history. 

You should also check a patient’s vaccination history on AIR to confirm appropriate interval between a doses of COVID-19 vaccine and/or of seasonal influenza vaccine are observed. 

How can I look at a patients My Health Record? Watch these simple MHR: video guides 

Further support

Need help? Contact the digital health team digitalheath@cesphn.com.au If your practice would like to register for My Health Record or receive support in utilising the My Health Record system 

COVID-19 vaccine training – update

Significant updates have occurred in to the COVID-19 vaccination training program on Friday 9 April. Module progress and completion have not been affected.

Immunisation providers are expected to login and view the new information. A summary of the updates can be found in the announcement forum. All changes within the modules are identified by ‘NEW’ in red.”

 “IMPORTANT – ATAGI have released new recommendations for AstraZeneca:

The COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer (COMIRNATY) is preferred over the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in adults aged under 50 years, who have not already had a first dose of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca can be used in adults aged under 50 years where the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual and the person has made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits (ATAGI, 2021d).”

Upcoming webinars

COVID-19 vaccine uptake and acceptance

2021 NCIRS COVID-19 vaccine webinar series focusing on practical advice for improving COVID-19 vaccine uptake and acceptance.

Date: Friday 30 April 2021
Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm AEDT

REGISTER

In this webinar:

• hear an update on COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Australia
• hear the latest research on Australian attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines
• learn evidence-based strategies for increasing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among your patients, colleagues, family and friends. 

COVID-19 vaccine updates 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.

Target audience: GPs and all health professionals

Details: Thursday 22 April, 11:30am-12:30pm (AEDT)

Use this link to join: https://publish.viostream.com/app/s-dfdmtnw

Share link with colleagues and get involved by submitting questions and comments!

Catch up on previous webinars 

AIR reporting – mandatory reporting for COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations

Reminder: Changes to AIR legislation now require vaccination providers to report all COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations to the AIR.

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/organisations/health-professionals/news/mandatory-reporting-covid-19-and-influenza-vaccinations

New resources

Weighing up the potential benefits against risk of harm from COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca

• Information about the AstraZeneca vaccine to help patients make informed decisions.
• Find out more about why people over 50 can still have the vaccine.
• How has ATAGI assessed the risks and benefits?

Patient information sheet on AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS)

• Patient information about the AstraZeneca vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccination program.

COVID-19 vaccination – Information on COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine

• This information sheet provides an update for a COVID-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca