COVID-19 Vaccines: Australian Government Department of Health Disability Provider Alert (COVID-19)

The Australian Government Department of Health (Department of Health) has today issued a Disability Provider Alert. The text of their alert is below.

The Australian Government has announced a change in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout based on new on advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

The Australian Government places safety above all else, as it has done throughout the pandemic, and will continue to follow the medical advice in protecting Australians. The Pfizer vaccine will now be available for people with disability, carers and workers aged between 18 and 50 years old, including people eligible under phase 1a and phase 1b of the vaccine rollout.

This will have an impact on the pace at which we can schedule vaccinations. People with disability who have already had the first dose of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca without any serious adverse effects can safely be given the second dose, including adults under 50 years.

The Government is reviewing the roll-out of the vaccine to people with disability and more information will be provided as soon as possible. The Department of Health appreciates the patience of people with disability, their families and cares, and providers during this time.

The Pfizer vaccine – Easy Read is available on the Department of Health website.

Updated ATAGI advice on AstraZeneca vaccine ATAGI recommends that the COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer (Comirnaty) is preferred over COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in adults aged under 50 years. This recommendation is based on the increasing risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 in older adults (and hence a higher benefit from vaccination) and a potentially increased risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia following AstraZeneca vaccine in those under 50 years.

COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca can be used in adults aged under 50 years where the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual and the person has made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits. The AstraZeneca vaccine – Easy Read on the Department of Health website will be updated shortly with the new advice. Additional AstraZeneca information is available in the new resources section below.

For more information

1. ATAGI statement on AstraZeneca vaccine in response to new vaccine safety concerns

2. Department of Health Secretary and Chief Medical Officer statement about the AstraZeneca vaccine advice from ATAGI

3. TGA statement about the AstraZeneca advice

4. About the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

5. Are COVID vaccines safe?

6. COVID-19 vaccine – Clinical considerations

7. What happens after I am vaccinated?

8. Which vaccine will I receive?

National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline

If you need information about COVID-19 or COVID-19 call 1800 020 080 or email COVID-19 vaccine enquiries.

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#COVID19 #ProviderUpdate

Action for Happiness Calendar (April 2021)

Welcome to Active April! ✨

At the beginning of each month, our People and Culture Division share with staff the Action for Happiness Calendar through our monthly People and Culture Insights Update.

As an organisation, we are committed to re-sharing these Calendars, to remind everyone to keep calm, stay wise and be kind. 📅

‘Active April 2021’ is a good reminder to "Listen to your body and be grateful for what it can do".

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#ActionForHappiness

Greater Brisbane 3 Day Lockdown (COVID-19 Update)

From 5pm 29 March 2021, people who have been in the greater Brisbane region since the 20 March 2021 will be subject to home confinement restrictions. The impacted Local Government Areas are:

• City of Brisbane

• City of Ipswich

• Logan City

• Moreton Bay Region

• Redland City

Anyone who has been in these areas on or since 20 March must follow the restrictions listed below.

Restricted areas movements – in and out

• People in the impacted local government areas (LGAs) will be required to stay at home except for essential reasons.

• Visitors to aged care facilities, disability accommodation services, hospitals and correctional facilities in the LGAs are restricted. This restriction is for all of Queensland, including Greater Brisbane.

• People can leave their home for a permitted purpose accompanied with people from their household or, alternatively, by one person who is not a member of their household.

• Individuals are able to leave the Greater Brisbane area to return to their home outside of Greater Brisbane or for essential reasons (see below) but must continue to follow the lockdown rules.

• Anyone who was in Greater Brisbane on or since 20 March but has since left must follow the same lockdown rules as for Greater Brisbane.

• Those who transit into Greater Brisbane from surrounding areas for work, healthcare, study or to support a vulnerable person may do so if it is not reasonably practicable to make other arrangement, such as work or study from home.

• People can enter Greater Brisbane to transit through Brisbane airport.

Reasons to leave home during the greater Brisbane lockdown period

• Shopping for essentials, food and necessary supplies

• Medical or healthcare needs, including compassionate requirements

• Exercise with no more than one other person, unless all from the same household

• Providing care or assistance to an immediate family member

• Work, or volunteering, or study if it is not reasonably practicable to work or learn remotely

• Child custody arrangements

• Legal obligations

• Visit for end of life

• Attend funeral or wedding in line with restrictions

• In emergency situations

• To escape harm

• If you entered the impacted area responding to an emergency as an emergency health services or emergency service worker or national defence, state security or police officer

• If required to allow an essential service to occur such as the transport of freight in and out of Greater Brisbane

• You're directed to leave by an emergency health officer

• You have an exemption from the Chief Health Officer

Gatherings

• Visitors at private residences limited to two per day.

• A person who owns, controls or operates a premises, other than a residence, must not organise or allow a gathering to occur on the premises.

Schools

Schools will be closed from Tuesday 30 March until Term 2, Monday 19 April, except for vulnerable children and children of essential workers.

Weddings and funerals

• Weddings (ceremony) – maximum of 10 people, including celebrant and witnesses.

• Funerals – maximum of 20 people, excluding officials.

Because of restrictions on non-essential businesses, wedding reception or other events post weddings and funerals should be postponed.

Non-essential businesses, activities and undertakings

A person who owns, controls or operates a non-essential business, activity or undertaking in an impacted area, including operating at a private residence, must not operate the business, activity or undertaking, with limited exceptions.

• Cafes, pubs and restaurants no dine in customers – takeaway allowed.

• Boot camps and personal training to two people outdoors (including the trainer), with physical distancing observed.

• Social sport is permitted, such as golf and tennis, limited to two people outdoors, with physical distancing observed.

• Community facilities to remain open for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services. Community facilities may continue to operate if they provide formal out of school hours care. Physical distancing must be observed to the extent possible.

• Food markets and farmers markets to continue to operate.

• Real estate auctions and open house inspections to private appointments only.

Masks for Queensland (all of Queensland including Greater Brisbane)

• You must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave home, unless you have a lawful reason not to.

• You must wear a mask in indoor spaces, such as:

  • shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets and indoor markets

  • hospitals and aged care facilities

  • hospitality venues such as restaurants and cafés (not required for patrons while seated; customer facing staff only)

  • churches and places of worship

  • libraries

  • indoor recreational facilities and gyms (except if doing strenuous exercise*)

  • indoor workplaces (where safe to wear a mask and you can’t physically distance)

  • public transport, taxis and rideshare, including waiting areas and queues for this transport

  • airports and travelling on planes.

• It is strongly recommended you wear a mask when outdoors if you are unable to stay more than 1.5m distance from other people, such as busy walkways and thoroughfares.

• Masks do not need to be worn in some circumstances, including children under 12 years, where people have certain medical conditions, and in workplaces where it is not safe to do so.

• You can remove your masks to consume food or drink.

*Strenuous exercise is exercise in or above the aerobic zone including high-intensity interval training, cycling, running.

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This information originally appeared on the Queensland Health government website:

#COVID19 #StrongerTogether #OneTeam