Resources for Health Professionals

Vaccination Resources

• Consent form for COVID-19 vaccination (DoH 18 June)
• Information for Immunisation Providers on Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) following COVID-19 vaccination (DoH 17 June)
• Information on COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine (DoH 17 June)
• Information on COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine (DoH 17 June)
• ATAGI guidance on the use of multi-dose vials for COVID-19 vaccination (DoH 17 June)
• Clinical alert - thrombosis with thrombocytopaenia syndrome (TTS) update (NSW Health 18 June)
• ATAGI clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccine in Australia in 2021 (DoH 18 June)
• Joint statement between RANZCOG and ATAGI about COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women (DoH 9 June)
• Information for providers: COVID-19 vaccination consent and FAQs (DoH 3 June)
• Vaccine Roll-out Eligibility Declaration Form (DOH)
• COVID-19 vaccine – Clinical considerations (DoH)
• COVID-19 vaccine – Advice for vaccine providers (DoH)
• ATAGI statement and clinical guidance on AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine following European Medicines Agency (EMA) safety review (ATAGI)
• Provider guide to COVID-19 vaccination of people with immunocompromise (ATAGI)
• ATAGI statement for health care providers on suitability of COVID-19 vaccination in people with history of clotting conditions (ATAGI)
• COVID-19 vaccines and Cancer Patients (DoH and Cancer Australia)
• COVID-19 vaccine – General questions for vaccine providers (DoH)
• Clinical Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccine in Australia in 2021 (ATAGI/DoH)
• Vaccine Side Effects Symptom Checker (healthdirect)
• Vaccination Assessment MBS numbers (MBS online)
• Information for Vaccine Providers (DOH)
• TGA AEFI Case Notification Form (TGA)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Aged Care Readiness Toolkit (DoH)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Monitoring Plan (TGA)
• Vaccine Aged Care Stakeholder Kit (DoH)
• Supporting and understanding delegations in HPOS to enable access to the Australian Immunisation Register (NCIRS)
• COVID-19 Vaccination in NSW: Fact Sheet for NSW Healthcare Workers (DoH)
• Advice on the relative timing of administering influenza and COVID-19 vaccines in 2021(ATAGI/ DoH)
• COVID-19 Vaccines Website (DoH)
• Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (DoH)
• Australia's Vaccine Agreements (DoH)
• COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Handbook (University of Bristol)

MBS Vaccine Assessment Descriptors

From March 2021, as part of the Australian Government’s phase 1B vaccination rollout, 16 new MBS items will be available to enable GPs to assess their patient’s suitability for COVID-19 vaccination. The MBS COVID-19 vaccine suitability assessment service factsheet details more information. 

From 18 June 2021 vaccinating GPs who provide in-depth clinical assessments of patients aged 50 and over, regarding individual risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, will be able to access two new MBS items. These items may be claimed if a vaccination assessment appointment exceeds 10 minutes, and must be provided in conjunction with a relevant MBS COVID-19 vaccine suitability assessment items. For more information visit the MBS website.

Practice Management Resources

• All practices must implement NSW QR codes from 12 July 2021. All patients and visitors must sign in using the QR code.
• Responding to a COVID-19 case in the practice team (RACGP)
• Entering Queensland for essential healthcare (QLD Health)
• Complex Care Patient Information (QLD Health)
• Maridulu Budyari Gumal fact sheets (Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise)
• Guidelines on the rights of people with disability in health and disability care during COVID19 (The Australian Human Rights Commission) 
• The Post-COVID-19 psychosocial intervention in healthcare professionals article
• Patients with Genetic Heart Disease and COVID-19: A Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ)
• Latest advice for healthcare professionals  April 2021 (NSW Health)
• Coronavirus information for healthcare professionals (NSW Health)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources (DoH)
• COVID-19 Frequently asked questions (NSW Health)
• RACF specific information and guidance (NSW Health) 
• Coronavirus resources for healthcare professionals (DoH)
• COVID-19 National Health Plan – Primary Care Package – MBS Telehealth Services and Increased Practice Incentive Payments (DoH)
• Guide to providing telephone and video consultations in general practice (RACGP)
• Vaccination clinics implementation during COVID-19 response (NSW Health)
• Fact Sheet: A Guide for Prescribers for prescribers provides a clear summary of how interim prescribing processes to support telehealth. 
• A Practical Guide to Video Mental Health Consultation (mentalhealthonline)
• COVID-19: Managing Your Mental Health Online During COVID-19 (eMHprac)
• Guidance on return to work requirements for people who have been quarantined (DoH)
• Mental health resources for GPs  (DR4DRS)
• RACGP fact sheet: Responding to a COVID-19 case in the practice team (RACGP)
• The Impact of COVID-19 on GPs (ANZ Health Sector)
• Management of post-acute COVID-19 in primary care (British Medical Journal)
• Managing patients who present with respiratory symptoms (RACGP)
• COVID-19 National Health Plan: Summary for GPs (by Dr Michael Crampton) March 2020
• COVID-19 National Health Plan: Fact Sheets (Dept of Health) March 2020

Clinical Guidelines

• NSW Health Virtual Care CoP guidance on Caring for adults with COVID-19 in the home and quick reference guide.
• The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce has launched new ‘living guidelines' that will provide the latest, evidence-based recommendations to clinicians caring for patients with COVID-19. 
• COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce: new definition of disease severity for children
• Spirometry Infection Control Recommendations for Primary Health

Infection Control 

• Appropriate PPE use for COVID-19 (Clinical Excellence Commission)
• Management of COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings  (Clinical Excellence Commission)
• Special precaution for COVID-19 designated zones (Clinical Excellence Commission)
• Principles of Infection Prevention and Control (RACGP)
• Environmental cleaning and disinfection principles for COVID-19 (NSW Health)
• Preventing and Controlling Healthcare-Associated Infection Standard (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare
• Standard and Transmission Based Precautions (including PPE) (Clinical Excellence Commission)
• Infection prevention and control application of PPE during COVID-19 (Clinical Excellence Commission)
• Managing pandemic influenza in the general practice - 3 part document (RACGP):
  • Part 1, A guide for prevention, preparation, response and recovery
  • Part 2, Implementation Guide
  • Part 3, Operational documents

Information for Disability Support Providers

• How to identify a potential COVID-19 outbreak in a residential facility and what to do next (NSW Health)
• COVID-19 vaccination - disability provider alert 26 May 2021 (NSW Health)

COVID-19 Statistics for our region

• Current NSW hotspot locations, areas of increased testing and public health orders (NSW Health)
• Confirmed cases and tests in the Nepean Blue Mountains region (NSW Health)
• Locally acquired cases and clusters in NSW (NSW Health)
• Confirmed cases by LGA (NSW Health)
• Confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW by postcode (Service NSW)
• Confirmed cases and tests in NSW (NSW Health)
• Areas of increased testing and surveillance​ (NSW Health)
• COVID-19 surveillance report (NSW Health)