Further to our 8 December 2021 news article on Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine National Rollout Strategy, planning is underway for our local vaccination program.
The National Rollout Plan commences with vaccinating identified priority populations in Phase 1a from mid to late February 2021. We expect the involvement of primary care to significantly increase with the roadmap strategy Phases 1b, 2a and 2b.
Have questions about the COVID-19 vaccination rollout on the North Coast? Click here to send us a message and we will prioritise your questions.
A COVID-19 vaccination strategy has complex logistical and operational requirements. Preparing for a coordinated, large-scale rollout has many considerations, including:
- Identifying competent and credentialed staff to administer vaccines
- Coordinating education and refresher skills training as indicated by workforce skills surveys
- Communication of key information to service providers and the general population in a way that is clear and easy to understand
- Secure storage, maintenance, transport and delivery of vaccines
- Appointment scheduling for initial vaccination and follow-up booking management for second dose vaccination (likely to be 4 weeks after the first dose)
- Implementation of a standardised care pathway incorporating pre-screening assessment, vaccine administration and post-vaccination monitoring
- Identifying accessible, clinically appropriate and safe locations to administer COVID-19 vaccines, including areas for post-vaccination monitoring
- Documentation and recording of vaccine administration in the Australian Immunisation Register
- Quality and safety aspects such as infection prevention and control practices, maintaining physical distancing, management of adverse events for vaccine recipients and/or staff including adverse reactions, anaphylaxis, management of needlestick injuries, bodily fluid/blood exposure incidents
- Recording consent and privacy of information
- Matching demand and capacity for vaccination service delivery and having the ability to ramp up in the event of emerging needs, changes to timelines or vaccine supply availability
Healthy North Coast will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available, with a focus on the implications for primary care and general practice.
We will also be consulting with local service providers next week and inviting Expressions of Interest to help plan our region’s readiness to support the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
Have questions about the COVID-19 vaccination rollout on the North Coast?
Information about the vaccination program is still being developed. If you have specific questions, share them with us via the form below — we’ll do our best to find the answers as we continue to publish regular updates on this unfolding program.
You can also visit our COVID-19 Advice for Health Professionals page for more vaccination-related information links.