Webinar helps practitioners manage the risk of service disruption
Participants at this week’s ‘Preparing your practice for an open Australia’ webinar have praised the presentation and its timeliness. Organised by Healthy North Coast and facilitated by Kym Poyner and Riwka Hagen, the hour-long session was delivered in response to the easing of public health restrictions and the ongoing risk of service disruption through community
RACF COVID-19 booster news and updates
COVID-19 booster vaccination clinics are currently being planned for residents of residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Clinics will be carried out by the same vaccination providers that were engaged by the Australian Government for the first two rounds. The providers will go on-site to RACFs to vaccinate residents needing their booster, and give any first
Supporting and strengthening primary care as Australia reopens
As Australia opens up to living with COVID-19, the Australian Government is investing $180 million in primary care to treat future COVID patients. Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt said with a highly vaccinated population, most COVID-positive people would be able to be managed in the community and would not require hospitalisation. Included
ATAGI recommends booster doses for those aged 18-plus
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine for people who are aged 18 years and over. The recommendation follows this week’s Therapeutic Goods Administration provisional approval of the Pfizer vaccine booster doses for those aged 18-plus. In a statement, ATAGI said booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine
How to deal with excess COVID-19 vaccines
As COVID-19 first dose vaccination heads north of 90% across the North Coast and rates begin to plateau, providers should be aware of how to deal with excess stock. Locally, Healthy North Coast’s Primary Health Coordinators have been working to assist practices with too many or too few vaccine doses, transferring stock wherever possible. The
COVID-19: preparing your practice for an open Australia
As states begin to ease public health restrictions, businesses and healthcare providers face the ongoing risk of service disruption through community transmission of COVID-19. Healthy North Coast is offering a webinar to help you manage the risks as public health orders change and adapt to the new ‘COVID normal’. Preparing your practice for an open
COVID-19 mortality rates plummet in aged care facilities
Vaccinations are having a positive effect on COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Australian Government data indicates that mortality rates of residents in RACFs have decreased by 91% from October 2020 to October 2021. During this time, there were 82% more RACF COVID-19 outbreaks across Australia, but the high level of vaccination among
North Coast residents encouraged to have proof of vaccination ready
As the North Coast opens up for business and travel to our region resumes, many venues will be asking to see people’s proof of COVID-19 double vaccination or medical exemption when checking in. This applies to those aged 16 and older. A vaccination certificate can be accessed through an individual’s myGov account or by ordering it
Updated resources on infection control, PPE and telehealth
We understand it can be difficult to stay up to date and navigate the influx and changes to COVID-19 resources. Our COVID-19 information page for health professionals is there to support your practices with the latest advice and priority resources. Our infection control, PPE and telehealth category has been updated with newly released resources. It
General practice in the spotlight as COVID-19 cases set to increase
Hospitals have largely managed COVID-19 cases to date. That looks set to change as the number of cases grow and managing COVID-19 becomes a part of our new normal. Since 2020, Healthy North Coast has worked closely with the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health Districts to respond to COVID-19 and support the
COVID-19 vaccination HealthPathway changes
The Vaccine Information HealthPathway has recently undergone a name change and is now titled Vaccination Resources. This HealthPathway links to a number of local, state and national resources and provides a comprehensive collation of reference material about the COVID-19 vaccination program. In the Mid and North Coast – Local Guidance section, immunisers will find information
Targeted clinics for the vulnerable and hard-to-reach
Healthy North Coast has been proactively targeting hard-to-reach and vulnerable communities to provide access to vaccination. Using a person-centred approach and supported by interpreters if need be, clinic staff take the time to explain the benefits and risks of vaccination and carefully answer questions. This approach has yielded excellent outcomes for members of our refugee
