Is there a plan? Yes, there is. More accurately, a roadmap!

 

 

Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap

 

The Australian Government is expecting approval of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines by the end of this month, with a rollout to priority groups beginning mid-February. In addition to being able to administer the vaccine when available, healthcare professionals will also be able to receive the vaccine in the following rollout phases:

 

 

Phase 1a

 

 

Frontline at-risk health care workers including staff in GP respiratory clinics and COVID-19 testing facilities, ambulance staff, paramedics, ICU and emergency department staff and clinical and ancillary support staff
Residential aged care and disability care staff
Residential aged care and disability care residents
Quarantine and border workers

 

 

Phase 1b

 

 

Adults over 70 years
All other health care workers
Begin to vaccinate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Younger adults with an underlying medical condition, including those with a disability
Critical and high risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing.

 

 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia. The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be used initially during the Phase 1a rollout. These vaccine doses will be distributed through 30 to 50 key hospital hubs across urban and rural Australia to priority group 1a. Distribution to residential aged care and disability care facilities will be done through a Commonwealth vaccination workforce in-reach program.

 

 

Provisional approval of the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is currently anticipated in February 2021, subject to regulatory requirements being met. Both vaccines will progressively be distributed through an expanded number of sites, including general practice clinics, existing Commonwealth GP respiratory clinics, state-run vaccination clinics and pharmacies.

 

 

COVID-19 vaccines will be free for everyone living in Australia and the Government has made it clear that COVID-19 vaccination will be voluntary – but it is strongly encouraged. More information about training for health professionals will be available in the coming weeks that will cover vaccine specific information, multi-dose vials, infection control, wastage, and adverse event reporting.

 

 

More information about the above approach is outlined in the Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy and the COVID-19 Vaccines National Rollout Strategy.

 

 

The Department of Health developed a new vaccine website so you can stay informed. This website is regularly being updated with more information as it becomes available. Information will also be available in 63 languages. Subscribe to the COVID-19 vaccines updates to ensure you receive the latest updates available on the website. Thanks to the AMA for all of this – become a member!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PartridgeGP works with you to help you make your best health decisions, and we won’t back away from being your companion, guide, advisor, and sounding board through your health journey. We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now, in the time of a global pandemic with a new vaccine on the horizon. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.

 

 

Better, for you.

 

 

Want more?

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For everyone, we believe that having a usual GP or General Practice is central to each person’s care and recommend that people with any health issues that come to the attention of other health professionals should be advised to attend their usual GP or General Practice rather than a specialised service (ie a place not providing the holistic care a specialist GP would).   If  they say that they don’t have a usual GP or general practice, they should be helped to find one and to actually attend it. Call PartridgeGP on 82953200 or make an appointment online here.

(Hat tip: Dr Oliver Frank)

 

 

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If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call our practice management team (Tracey, Ali, Katie) on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.