Hello and welcome to your latest Covid Vaccination Hub Bulletin.
Our COVID-19 Vaccination Hub continues to do a fantastic job! Over 200,000 vaccines have now been recorded at sites across the Hub.
Western Health as the COVID-19 Vaccination Hub for the western metropolitan region has already established a number of high-volume vaccination sites including Sunshine Hospital, the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (operated by RMH) and the Melbourne Showgrounds. Behind the scenes, we are working on establishing additional high volume vaccination centres. We will let you know more about this progress soon.
The long awaited COVID-19 Vaccine Management System’s online booking function was launched on Tuesday 15 June. This can be accessed at https://cvms.powerappsportals.com/. For more details on using the booking function, click here.
Victorian Government directed changes came into effect this week for people wanting to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine due to a temporary shortage in supply. This includes staff not being able to book in to receive a first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine until further notice. Staff coming due for a second dose will need to call the hotline 1800 675 398 or go through the online booking centre. See below for further details.
This afternoon, ATAGI have announced some new recommendations. Effective immediately, Pfizer is now the preferred COVID-19 vaccine in adults aged under 60 years. Details on this decision and the subsequent impact on people who have current bookings is outlined below.
A Vaccination Webinar has been scheduled for Friday June 18 at 12.00 midday to provide information and answer questions to recent vaccine announcements.
Please click on the following link below to join the webinar: https://westernhealth.zoom.us/j/94634225376?pwd=RnEzU1I0UEJtelNMaDRtbEFIa2kvQT09 ; passcode: 268158
A reminder to please ensure that you have your second dose of vaccine. You are not optimally protected against COVID-19 without 2 doses. Please do not delay. For AstraZeneca vaccine you can get your second dose any time between 8-12 weeks. For Pfizer, it is recommended you get your second dose at 3-6 weeks.
Check out the COVID-19 Vaccination microsite to keep up to date with everything relating to the COVID-19 vaccination.
Regards,
Shane Crowe
Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery
ATAGI Announces Important Changes to AstraZeneca Recommendations
This afternoon, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommended that Pfizer is now the preferred COVID-19 vaccine in adults aged under 60 years.
Effective immediately:
All people aged 50-59 who are currently booked in to receive a first dose of AstraZeneca at a vaccination site that also administers Pfizer will be offered the Pfizer vaccine upon arrival, with reference to today’s ATAGI recommendation.
All people aged 50-59 who are currently booked in to receive a first dose of AstraZeneca at a vaccination site that does not administer Pfizer will be advised of today’s ATAGI recommendation upon arrival. If a person in this group wishes to receive Pfizer, they should be advised to call the vaccine hotline at 1800 675 398 to reschedule their booking. If the person wishes to proceed with vaccination on the day, that person may consent to receiving AstraZeneca in line with current consent protocols. The Department is urgently contacting people in this group by phone in order to reschedule bookings.
All people aged 50-59 who walk in to receive a first dose of AstraZeneca will not be offered the Pfizer vaccine. If a person in this group wishes to receive Pfizer, they will be eligible to do so when first dose Pfizer bookings become available. If the person wishes to proceed with vaccination on the day, that person may consent to receiving AstraZeneca in line with current consent protocol.
People who have had their first dose of AstraZeneca without any serious adverse effects should be given their second dose of AstraZeneca, whether booked or on a walk in basis. This includes adults under 60 years of age.
People aged 60 years and over should continue to receive AstraZeneca unless an existing formal exception applies.
Walk ins and bookings for AstraZeneca will continue without change until further notice.
Click here for more information.
Pfizer Vaccination Changes
There has been a significant increase in the number of eligible Victorians receiving their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine over the past few weeks. To ensure we can accommodate the large number of people who are due for their second dose of this vaccine in the coming weeks, we have responded to Department of Health advice by implementing the following changes regarding Pfizer vaccination:
There will be no walk-ins for any Pfizer vaccination. You will be required to make a booking by calling the hotline 1800 675 398 or accessing the online booking system
Those who have had the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine will receive the second dose. To receive your second dose, please call the hotline 1800 675 398 or access the online booking system to make a booking.
Those who have a pre-existing booking for first dose of Pfizer vaccine: Everyone who has already booked a first dose of Pfizer will receive their vaccine. Please attend for your vaccine appointment at the nominated time and place.
New bookings for first dose of Pfizer vaccine: From 14 June 2021 until further notice new bookings for the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine have been paused. The only exceptions are: people who work for Hotel Quarantine, people who work for Tidewatch, high rise accommodation residents and staff, Red Zone airport and marine port staff and those with travel exemptions.
Grand Round: COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
The Women’s with the University of Melbourne Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology invite you to find out more about how you can support the women in your care to make the appropriate decisions for them about COVID-19 vaccination.
When: Friday 18 June 1pm – 1.45pm
RSVP: events@thewomens.org.au
Upon RSVP’ing, staff will be sent log in details.
Click here for an event flyer.