COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout Pack

COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout Information Pack

The Federal Government is working closely with state governments, peak bodies and PHNs on the national COVID-19 vaccine roll-out plan.

The program will be rolled out in five phases, targeting the most vulnerable and priority populations first.

On Monday 25 January the Government announced provisional approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia for people 16 years of age and over, after Australia’s regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration – TGA provisionally approved its usage.

Learn more at www.health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines  

For more information visit the Department of Health’s COVID-19 vaccines website and subscribe to the COVID-19 Vaccines Update.

General Practice

Expression of Interest (EOI) process

Please note this EOI has now closed.

All accredited general practices were invited to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to participate from Phase 1b of the national rollout strategy, planned to commence in March 2021. EOI portal opened on 23 January 2021 and closed on 1 February 2021.

Learn more at https://www.health.gov.au/news/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-primary-care-participation-in-phase-1b-call-for-expressions-of-interest-from-general-practices

General Practice EOI frequently asked questions (Version 2 – 1 Feb) 

COVID-19 Training and Education links

COVID-19 vaccination training modules now live

The Australian Government has partnered with the Australian College of Nursing to develop and deliver free and accredited training, which is mandatory for providers who have been authorised to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations as part of the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy.

The first modules are targeting health professionals in hospitals who will be administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, but is being provided for:

• general practices
• state and Commonwealth vaccination clinics
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
• pharmacies

The training provides information about the COVID-19 vaccination more broadly and additional modules specific to individual vaccine candidates. It covers topics including multi-dose vials, handling and storage of vaccines, safety and surveillance monitoring and reporting for adverse events following immunisation.

Training is also available for non-clinical and administration staff who can access the non-clinical modules of the training such as handling, storage and administration.

It is planned that additional COVID-19 training modules will be added, to include specific training for the Oxford University/AstraZeneca, Novavax and future vaccines (i.e as possible new vaccines emerge).

Click here to find out more

Note: To access the training you will need to log into the COVID19 Vaccination Training site.

Other Useful Links (General Practice)

• Australian Government COVID vaccination policy – November 2020
• ATAGI – Preliminary advice on general principles to guide the prioritisation of target populations in a COVID-19 vaccination program in Australia
• Aus VaxSafety
• TGA – COVID-19 Vaccination – Information for Consumers and Health Professional
• RACGP – Vaccine information for GPs
• RACGP – 5 Standards for Vaccine Potency

• Qld Adverse Event Following Immunisation Form

Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) and Disability Sector

The department of Health has a dedicated webpage for COVID-19 vaccine information for aged care providers and workers.

It includes: A newspaper, information sheets, posters and FAQ.

• Department of Health Media Support Kit for COVID-19 vaccinations - NEW - 5 pages

Surge workforce

The Australian Government has appointed Aspen Medical, Healthcare Australia, International SOS, and Sonic Clinical Services to supplement the existing immunisation workforce for Phase 1a rollout as required. This surge workforce will help provide immunisations for priority groups including residential aged care, residential disability care and carers.

COVID-19 and influenza vaccination requirements: aged care workers

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination. However, at this time AHPPC does not recommend mandating COVID-19 vaccination for the aged care workforce at this stage. For more information on the AHPPC decision visit the Department of Health website.