VACCINATION HUB BULLETIN – THURSDAY 20 MAY - Western Health COVID-19Western Health COVID-19

Hello and welcome to your latest Covid Vaccination Hub Bulletin.

We continue to track well with vaccination numbers, with over 76, 300 doses administered across our hubs and sub-hubs. We expect this number to continue growing in the coming weeks as Western Health supports a number of vaccination sites in our region.

Thank you to the 70 staff for getting the #jabdone at the second Footscray Pop-Up Hub last Thursday and Friday.

We were very excited to also open the Melbourne Showgrounds high-volume vaccination hub to the public on Monday 17 May. You can read more on this milestone below.

Walk-ins remain welcome at our Sunshine Hospital Hub as well as at our newly operational Melbourne Showgrounds Hub.

Our clever Business Intelligence team have developed a MAP2.0 report to inform Western Health managers of the COVID-19 Vaccination uptake of their own staff. Further information can be found below.

A reminder that we have transitioned from our Timify booking system to the Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccination booking system. All those who have received their first vaccine dose at Western Health sites will receive an email reminder to book for a second dose. To make a booking at any of our vaccination sites, please phone 1800 675 398 & select option 1 and 1.

A self-registration portal will soon be released by the Department of Health to enable online bookings.

Finally, as we marked International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) this week, I wish to re-enforce that we are striving to make all staff, volunteers, patients and their families feel accepted and included in the COVID-19 vaccination program.

Thanks to all of you as we move closer towards our goal of getting the #jabdone.

Regards,

Shane Crowe
Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery

Showgrounds now open

On Monday 17 May Western Health’s latest high-volume vaccination site opened at the Melbourne Showgrounds. The new site, led by NUM Allison Lamb (pictured left with ANUM Rachael, a RUSON and Tim the medical officer) and under the guidance of Lisa Smith, has 50 cubicles and will be offering both Pfizer and Astra Zeneca vaccinations. This follows the great success of our Melbourne Airport and Sunshine Hospital vaccine hubs.

Our new site has already had quite a bit of media attention, featuring on Nine’s Today Show, Seven News and Nine News , and the Herald Sun.

Well done to all involved, and we look forward to getting the #jabdone for more of Melbourne’s west!

Supporting Community Vaccination

To support community engagement in the COVID-19 vaccination program, we have launched a community facing vaccination information site. This site contains useful information and links about the COVID-19 vaccines and eligibility to book in for a vaccination now.

It also contains information about the location of our Sunshine and Showgrounds Vaccination Hubs, opening hours and the vaccination process.

The site can be found at: https://covid-19vaccination.wh.org.au

Please share this link with family and friends to help more people in the west get the #jabdone.

COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake by Western Health staff

Our Business Intelligence team have developed a MAP2.0 report to inform Western Health managers of the COVID-19 Vaccination update of their own staff.

It is not available to review under the Workforce Tab.

All Western Health managers are encouraged to review the reports for your team(s) and touch base with any staff that have yet to have the COVID-19 vaccination. For any of those staff that are intending to have the vaccine, but have yet to get around to it – they are encouraged to book in as quickly as possible.

For any staff that have queries or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine, they are encouraged to attend the Hub to talk to our experienced nursing and medical staff who can assist with decision making.

Second Vaccine Dose

Please note that many staff have yet to have their second dose of the vaccine. In most cases this is expected, given the 12 weeks between the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. However there may be staff who are due their second dose but have yet to book in. If this is the case for any of your team members, please encourage them to book in as soon as possible.

The second dose of Pfizer vaccine should be given 3-6 weeks after the first dose. The second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine can be given 4-12 weeks after the first dose; 12 weeks is preferred. COVID-19 vaccines need both doses to ensure protection against COVID-19.

Flu Vaccination

A reminder to all staff to also schedule your annual flu vaccination. A range of dates have been scheduled during May for drop-in clinics at Sunshine, Footscray and Williamstown sites for Western Health staff.

Vaccination experts recommend 2 weeks between Covid-19 vaccination and influenza vaccination.

For the first time, all flu vaccinations are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Staff are requested to have their Medicare card details and employee number with them when presenting for vaccination. To save time, staff can download and complete the consent form before arriving at the Drop in Clinic.