Delivering Phase 1B COVID-19 vaccination in general practice

Phase 1b focuses on the following Australian population groups:

• People 70 years of age or older.
• Health care workers.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults over 55 years.
• Younger people with an underlying medical condition, including people with a disability.
• Critical and high risk workers, including Australian Government officials about to be deployed overseas on official government business.

Individuals and health professionals should use the COVID-19 Eligibility Checker to see if an individual is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The eligibility checker will be updated as further information is provided.

See HealthPathways COVID-19 Vaccination Procedure for information on preparing for the vaccination session, clinic screening, assessment, consent and administration.

Plan and Prepare

• Visit the PCI project page Plan and prepare stand-by capacity for COVID-19 vaccination in general practice.
• Ensure all clinical and supervision staff have completed the Australian Government COVID-19 vaccination training program. Provide the option of completing non-clinical modules to administrative and non-clinical staff.
• Reporting to the Australian Immunisation Register is mandatory for the COVID-19 vaccination. Non-compliance will result in a financial penalty. Click through to Improve recording and updating of immunisation data to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) for assistance.

Register your practice from 10 March in the Department of Health online COVID-19 vaccine stock management portal (live link not available at this time). 

• You will need two codes to register. These will be provided in the letter you received advising you that you are part of the 1b rollout:
  1. Cohort Registration Code
  2. Site Registration Code

Add or update your practice details in the National Health Services Directory (here).

• All approved COVID 19 vaccination clinics must be listed on the National Health Services Directory to ensure timely and transparent access for consumers.

Patient Booking and Prioritisation

• To recall patients from your practice, the following PenCS recipes may assist with identifying patients at risk per Department of Health advice . Please note: the current reports and filters in CAT4 are not 100% aligned with the priority groups.  Additional filters can be added to make the recipes more specific, for example only those patients who have visited in the last 12 months or only active (three visits in two years) patients. See page 13 of the onboarding pack V2 for more detail on underlying medical conditions.
  COVID-19 Vaccine 1b: Identify Indigenous patients over 55
  COVID-19 Vaccine 1b: Identify patients over 70 yrs of age
  COVID-19 Vaccine 1b: Identify patients with a BMI >= 40
  COVID-19 Vaccine 1b: Identify patients with a cancer diagnosis
  COVID-19 Vaccine 1b: Identify patients with specific chronic diseases
• Patients from another practice will self-prioritise through the Vaccine Eligibility Checker. The patient will be advised that they may be turned away if they are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine at that time or cannot provide required proof.
• Proof of underlying medical conditions includes up-to-date information in the person’s My Health Record, letters of referral (for people with chronic conditions/at increased risk) or letters of employment for eligible occupations. Confirmation is not required for the second dose as long as the first dose is registered in AIR.  See page 12 of the onboarding pack V2 for more examples of proof of eligibility for 1b vaccination.
• If a patient does not have proof of their underlying medical condition, they may complete a Phase 1b declaration form. This form will soon be available from the Department of Health’s website.
• The Department of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Information and Booking Service will provide  ‘one front door’ where people can check their eligibility and find out where to get a COVID-19 vaccine, with links to clinics offering vaccine appointments (live link not available at this time).

Consent

• Informed consent is required before administering a COVID-19 vaccine dose and must be documented as per standard practices. Verbal or written consent is acceptable. For guidance on consent, visit ATAGI immunisation provider guide to obtaining informed consent for COVID-19 vaccine.
• The Department of Health has provided an optional COVID-19 Vaccination written consent form.

Vaccine Stock and Consumables

• Do not hold back stock for the second dose.
• See onboarding pack V2 for box dimensions (10 vials per box, 10 doses per vial).
• Stock will be ordered through the online ordering portal (live link not available at this time).
• The online ordering portal will also be used for confirming stock acceptance and management. Orders will need to include a point of contact for delivery acceptance and notifications.
• At the time of vaccine delivery general practices will be provided with needles (25mm), syringes (3ml) and sharp disposal containers.

Adverse Events

• See NSW Health COVID-19 vaccine: Enhanced surveillance and adverse event reporting guidelines to understand the adverse event monitoring and surveillance plan for COVID-19 vaccines in NSW and how this links to the national plan. For clinician determined serious or unexpected AEFI download the National Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) Reporting Form and contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.
• Non serious or expected adverse events may be voluntarily reported to the TGA to assist with the monitoring of vaccine safety.

Payment

• Accredited practices that have joined the PIP are eligible to participate in the PIP COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive. The payment is set at $10 per eligible patient that has completed both COVID-19 vaccines (payable only once per patient).
• Familiarise yourself with the COVID-19 MBS items.
• To apply for the PIP, visit Services Australia.
• Ensure your general practitioner details are up to date. To manage your details, click here. For further details on payment, see page 10 of the  onboarding pack V2. 

Contact your Primary Health Coordinator for more information, see contact details below.