Topic: COVID-19

General practice can now submit reimbursement requests for the cost of privately purchased 2022 influenza vaccines which were administered between 1 June and 17 July 2022 using the GP universal influenza vaccination program reimbursement form. Please ensure a copy of your vaccine purchase invoice is attached to the form to support the reimbursement cost claim. 

Please complete this form and attach all relevant invoices and return to MOH-NSWHealth@health.nsw.gov.au by COB Friday, 26 August 2022.

Following receipt of this information you will receive a notification from NSW Health with a request to set up your practice as a vendor in the NSW Health system, once this is complete your payment request will be processed.

Please provide contact details for the most appropriate person in your practice to set this up.  

If you have any questions regarding this reimbursement process, please contact NSW Health at MOH-NSWHealth@health.nsw.gov.au as SWSPHN are unable to assist in this regard.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved a paediatric dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in children aged six months to five years.

Currently this mRNA vaccine is provisionally approved for immunisation to prevent COVID-19 in individuals aged six years and older (primary series of two doses administered at least 28 days apart), and as a booster dose for adults aged 18 years and older. The paediatric vaccine is made in the same way as the vaccines for older persons, however it contains a lower concentration of the active ingredient.

Importantly, TGA provisional approval is the first step in consideration of the use of a COVID-19 vaccine in Australia. This decision indicates the vaccine has met high safety, quality and efficacy standards.

The potential use of this vaccine in the national COVID-19 vaccination program, including use in which, if any, children in this age group is still to be determined. As with all COVID-19 vaccines, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) will provide advice to the Federal Government on these matters in the coming weeks.

Visit the TGA’s website to learn more

Health authorities have advised the use of masks indoors to stop the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly spoke to the media (12 July), warning a “wave of cases and hospitalisations over the next few week” was expected due to the new BA.4 or BA.5 variant.

To combat the new variant, Professor Kelly said:

• the availability of oral treatments had been increased for people who are at more risk of getting severe disease.
• the availability of fourth doses of vaccine had been expanded.

Professor Kelly said: “(We’re) reissuing our advice on masks and making sure people are using those indoors now to protect themselves, their family, their loved ones and the community”.  Read Professor Kelly’s comments

ATAGI advised the increased use of masks and antiviral treatment in people diagnosed with COVID-19 when announcing its recommendation to expand the eligibility for the fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose (7 July). Read ATAGI’s advice

Dr Kerry Chant has also urged NSW residents to wear masks when they can’t socially distance. She said residents should be considerate and wear a mask when they enter a shop or a crowded indoor public space. She made the comments in a media conference (5 July). Listen to Dr Chant’s comments

The National COVID 19 Vaccine Taskforce has made changes to the CVAS ordering and inventory management system which will limit a site’s ability to place an order if they have excess vaccine stock on hand. These changes are assisting the COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce manage wastage and the equitable distribution of vaccine stock.  

Moving forward, some sites may notice their earliest next order date for one or more vaccines has been extended by a week. These are sites which meet the metrics of high current stock on hand and relatively low administrations as a proportion of their orders (taking into account stock expiry). They will have their next order date extended for one additional week so they can use their excess stock. 

If you have had your next order date extended for an additional week, you will not be able to place an order for this vaccine until your excess stock on hand levels have reduced. It will not impact the other vaccines you are ordering and administering. The taskforce will continue to review your stock levels to ensure you do not have excess stock on hand. 

It’s important all participating practices manage their vaccine stock. You can do this by skipping orders, ordering less than your maximum allocation, or transferring excess stock in line with the stock transfer policy. 

If you have further queries regarding this, please contact a member of the SWSPHN COVID-19 Response Team at covid19@swsphm.com.au  

ATAGI update following weekly COVID-19 meeting – 27 April 2022 | Australian Government Department of Health

The recommended dose interval for thetwo2 doses of the primary course of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines was previously: 

• three to six weeks for Comirnaty (Pfizer) 
• four to six weeks for Spikevax (Moderna) 

ATAGI now recommends the dose interval between primary doses should be extended to eight weeks.

The extended dose interval of eight weeks has been shown to improve the immune response to vaccination and therefore may improve effectiveness. A longer dose interval may also reduce the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis. The longer dose interval is particularly recommended for groups at higher risk of this side effect (those under the age of 40 years). 

The dose interval can be reduced (to a minimum of three weeks for Pfizer or four weeks for Moderna) for people at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (including older adults and people with underlying medical conditions), in an outbreak setting, or prior to international travel. 

If you have further queries regarding this, please contact a member of the SWSPHN COVID-19 Response Team at covid19@swsphm.com.au  

On this page you will find an updated definition of ‘Close Contact’, as well as other helpful resources about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Updated 5 January 2022

Close Contact and information for people exposed to COVID-19 

The definition of ‘Close Contact’ has recently been changed by the NSW Government.

If you are told by someone that you have been in contact with a person who has COVID-19, use the advice below to understand your risk and what you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community.

You may not receive a text message or call from NSW Health after being exposed to a person with COVID-19.

COVID-19 and your risk

Your risk of getting COVID-19 will be based on the type of contact you have had with a person who has tested positive to COVID-19. You are at risk of developing COVID-19 in the 14 days after you were last in contact with someone with the virus.

When thinking about your testing and isolation requirements, it is important to think about your own personal circumstances. This includes the risk you could be to people you live or work with, and anyone you may visit.

The following table will help you identify who is at most risk of COVID-19 and what to do if you’re told you’ve been in contact with someone with COVID-19:

Further reading:

• COVID-19 guidelines and factsheets
• COVID-19 Test and Isolate National Protocols
• Information for people exposed to COVID-19