HNELHD

COVID Immunisation

Newsletter 5 February 2021 Issue 1

Introduction from Patrick (below is what you sent with the Dec TTP, please update as required)

There is much to do to prepare for Covid vaccines although there are few details available but please do

Maintain quality vaccine storage & cold chain.

For Authorised Nurse Im-munisers be up to date – details in attached TTP and please contact me any questions.

Main points of the vaccine rollout: Covid vaccines overseen by the Commonwealth government. Initial Pfizer vaccines Phase 1a in NSW will commence at 3 Sydney

Hospitals from 22 Feb 2021 Then to further 8 hospitals in NSW including John Hunter Hospital Roll out strategy in 3 phases by priority groups– see graphic last page COVID-19 vaccination in NSW | NSW Government Where will the clinics be held? First Covid vaccination Hospital Hubs with Pfizer vaccine Then Covid vaccination GP Hubs with Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine Then Covid vaccination community pharmacies. Pfizer vaccine is called COMIRNATY

Covid vaccines presented in multi-dose vials. Comirnaty vaccine stored at –70C with 5-7 doses per vial. Low dead space syringes will be supplied. Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine stored at the conventional vaccine storage temperature of 2-8C in 10 dose multi use vials. Every dose is precious and accountable. Impeccable care & technique drawing up vaccine is required. Attention to detail with every aspect of the cold chain essential to prevent vaccine wastage. For GP practices who have submitted an EOI to be a GP Covid Vaccination Hub please use the time between now and Covid vaccine arriving at your practice to ensure exact compliance with Strive for 5 vaccine storage guidelines. All practices should annually service vaccine refrigerator and complete vaccine storage audit What will the interval between vaccine doses? 3 weeks for Pfizer vaccine. Astra Zeneca vaccine waiting for TGA approval with a12 week interval being used in the UK. Will a COVID vaccine be mandatory for anyone? - The COVID-19 vaccine will be voluntary, universal and free. Who will be administering COVID vaccines? https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/mobilising-australias-covid-19-vaccine-workforce Do GPs have to use the governments central appointment system? COVID-19 vaccinations: GPs won't need to use the govt's appointment system | Australian Doctor Group (ausdoc.com.au) FAQs - New immunisation reference page: COVID-19 vaccines: frequently asked questions - The Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (MVEC) (mcri.edu.au) Advice on the relative timing of administering influenza and COVID-19 vaccines in 2021 ATAGI advice on Flu and COVID-19 (health.gov.au) A little light relief - https://youtu.be/ZnbOKH9Oe9s (just gorgeous)

Contact your PHU for Immunisation enquiries

Phone: 1300 066 055

Fax: 4924 6490

Email: HNELHD-PHImmunisation

@health.nsw.gov.au

Main points of vaccine rollout

Education

Maintaining your Authori-ty to Immunise

Reporting COVID vaccines to AIR is mandatory

Get your PRODA account

Aboriginal Health update

National rollout strategy in pictures

COVID Newsletter

20 January 2021 Issue 1

EDUCATION

There is a plethora of education available to assist with vaccinating with COVID vaccines.

Some will be mandatory - The Australian College of Nursing have been contracted to deliver mandatory training for

any individual administering COVID vaccines. https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-

vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-training-program

Any authorised nurse immuniser wanting to work in a HNELHD clinic needs evidence that they are current

with their immunisation authority.

Maintaining Authority to Immunise

It is your responsibility to keep your practice current. For your General Nursing Registration you are required to

have at least 20 hours of documented learning Some of these hours can include immunisation education. To

maintain your authority to immunise:

annually review best practice policy for immunisation. This may be, but is not limited to:

Webinars and other online education sessions - HNELHD webinars

Reading To the Point - To The Point Immunisation Newsletters (nsw.gov.au)

Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management module - HNE employees, through My Health

Learning For non-HNE nurses via the NSW Health website: Click here

www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/coldchain/story_flash.html

Journal articles, media releases, faxes, online resources etc.

An annual statement of proficiency in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation

Document your learning - The best way to show evidence of this is by documenting all education on the Nursing

and Midwifery Board of Australia Evidence record. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Search

(nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au). There is also Ausmed CPD Online - Ausmed | Document CPD Online For Free

Below is a list of other educational opportunities.

Homepage - The Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (mcri.edu.au) - modules include: vaccination

procedures and use of multi-dose vials.

NCIRS webinars REGISTER HERE: https://ncirs.org.au/NCIRSSeminars

Out of the starting blocks: COVID-19 vaccination program in Australia –

Part 1

Date: Friday 12 February 2021

Time: 12.30 pm – 2:00 pm AEDT

Mandatory reporting to the Australian Immunisation Register has been passed through the Australian Parliament

A passage of new legislation through the Australian Parliament now requires all vaccination providers to report vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Any COVID-19 vaccines, once approved for use and administered in Australia must be reported to the AIR. Influenza vaccinations must be reported to the AIR from 1 March 2021 and all other NIP vaccinations must be reported from 1 July 2021. The Ministers press release is available on the Department of Health website.

Ensure you have your access to AIR via PRODA. Every individual who needs to access the AIR MUST have their

own PRODA account. Check the December 2020 TTP newsletter To The Point Immunisation Newsletters (nsw.gov.au)

Part 2 Date: Friday 19 February 2021 Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm AEDT

COVID Newsletter

20 January 2021 Issue 1

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Covid immunisation

COVID-19 vaccine roll-out EOI - Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) will be using a sep-arate processes and do not need to apply through a EOI – Commonwealth working with NACCHO and their 8 Affiliate organisations across the States and Territories

The Commonwealth Indigenous Policy and Engagement team developing a community engagement (Stakeholder) engagement kit soon and will share to assist with handling any questions

All ACCHS/AMS providers administering a COVID-19 vaccine will need to have undertaken routine immunisa-tion training specific to their health profession, as well as COVID-19 vaccine specific training which the Common-wealth Department of Health will make available on Covid-19-vaccination training program

NACCHO has developed resource page that contains recommendations to support healthcare teams in prevention and management of COVID-19 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Covid19- Primary Healthcare Guidance