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8 February 2023                                                                                     View this email in your browser

This update provides information to help primary care providers tackle current challenges, including COVID-19. Submissions can be sent to covax@murrayphn.org.au

View previous editions here.

COVID vaccination provider bulletin 8 February

ATAGI 2023 booster advice
The Australian Government has accepted the latest recommendation from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), “that all adults who have not had a COVID-19 booster or a confirmed case in the past six months can now get another booster to give them additional protection against severe illness from COVID.”

ATAGI recommends a booster for people:

  • 65 years and over
  • 8-64 years who have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or disability with significant or complex health needs.
Other groups who should consider a 2023 booster dose based on an individual risk benefit assessment with an immunisation provider are those:
  • 18-64 years without risk factors for severe COVID-19
  • 5-17 years who have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or disability with significant or complex health needs.
A 2023 booster dose is not recommended for people under 18 who do not have any risk factors for severe COVID-19.

Provider notes:
  • Bivalent mRNA booster vaccines are the preferred vaccines for the 2023 booster dose.
  • The 2023 booster dose will be included in the COVID-19 vaccination program (the Program) from 20 February however providers may immediately begin administering to eligible patients if they have stock and appointments available.
  • All primary care vaccination sites have had their allocation of Pfizer bivalent (grey) increased from 240 to 600 doses per fortnight.
Pfizer Bivalent BA.4-5 vaccine
ATAGI has recommended that the Pfizer bivalent BA.4-5 vaccine can be used as an alternative vaccine for booster doses in people aged 12 and older. The Pfizer bivalent BA.4-5 vaccine will be included in the Program from 6 March. All sites will be onboarded in the coming weeks. The vaccine is not registered for use in children aged under 12 years.

Read the full bulletin here

GP-led Respiratory Clinic Panel Program tender
Accredited general practices can apply to be part of the Commonwealth's GPRCP Program, a panel arrangement which aims to provide surge capacity from March 2023 to respond to COVID-19 waves or other respiratory health emergencies. Click here to learn more. Closing date extended to tomorrow, Thursday 9 February at 2pm.

Mosquito-borne diseases 

Webinar
Murray PHN and the Victorian Department of Health, together with the Goulburn Valley, Loddon Mallee, and Ovens Murray Public Health Units, are holding an update on Thursday 16 February, 6.30–7.30pm for clinicians on mosquito-borne diseases in Northern Victoria. The webinar will cover clinical features of Japanese encephalitis and Murray Valley encephalitis, pathology testing recommendations and notification advice.

Click here to learn more and register.

Cases and pathways
The Victorian Department of Health advises that a second case of JE virus infection has been confirmed – the person spent time in Buloke Shire and Swan Hill during their acquisition period.

Clinicians should test for MVE and JE viruses in patients with compatible illness. Suspected cases of JE virus must be notified to the Department immediately by calling 1300 651 160. For more information click here and see below.

The Mosquito-borne Diseases in Victoria pathway outlines assessment, management and referral options.


Flood recovery
The Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit (LMPHU) wants to hear from primary care providers about their experience in caring for flood-affected communities since October 2022, particularly those in Buloke, Campaspe, Gannawarra, Loddon, Mildura and Swan Hill local government areas. To take part in a short, five-minute phone survey, fill in this form or send your contact details to phu@bendigohealth.org.au

Additional resources:

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) Virus
NSW and Victorian governments have expanded eligibility criteria for JE vaccine which remains free-of-charge for eligible people. Victorian providers are reminded that: 

  • All JE vaccine orders must be sent to the Immunisation Unit at immunisation@health.vic.gov.au for approval as outlined in this letter
  • Orders of JEspect are now restricted to GPs and Aboriginal Health Services and require approval by the department ONCE a patient has undergone a clinical assessment  
  • Dose two of JEspect should be deferred for all persons until otherwise notified.  
NSW providers may order a maximum of ten doses per clinic via the State Vaccine Centre. Larger orders can be requested from local public health units.

To avoid JEV vaccination errors, ask every question on the eligibility checklist to ensure the correct vaccine is chosen. 
 
It is mandatory for all vaccination providers to report Japanese encephalitis vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). More information for providers can be found at NSW Health and the Victorian Department of Health.

Local councils are now providing JE vaccinations as part of their vaccination programs:

General practice and pharmacy providers of the vaccine in the Murray PHN region can be found here. Goulburn Valley, Ovens Murray and Loddon Mallee Public Health Units continue to provide JE vaccines through outreach clinics. 

Mpox
With more vaccine available, the preferred route of administration is now subcutaneous. Order limits for JYNNEOS have increased and the minimum order remains at 20 vials. Mpox is managed by Public Health Units (PHU) in Victoria. If a primary care provider wants to provide the vaccine, the relevant PHU needs to provide approval. 

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
From Monday 6 February, the routine two dose HPV vaccine schedule provided to young people aged 12-13 years through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) became a single dose schedule for immunocompetent people using the same Gardasil®9 vaccine. In addition, the age of eligibility for catch-up has increased from 19 to 25 years. View the factsheet here.

COVID-19 antivirals
The Australian Department of Health and Aged Care expanded eligibility criteria for Lagevrio and Paxlovid on 1 January, as outlined in this factsheet. The changes were clarified on 1 February to include ‘all patients over the age of 18 years who have been previously hospitalised with COVID-19 disease, if subsequently re-infected.’

Support for homebound individuals
Murray PHN can help to engage a primary care vaccine provider for homebound patients. Click here for eligibility criteria and referral. For more: covax@murrayphn.org.au


Vaccination clinics
Local primary care vaccination providers are available here. 

Wodonga GP respiratory clinic
GPRCs provide free care for Victorians with respiratory symptoms. If your health service is located near Wodonga and lacks capacity or adequate PPE to manage patients with respiratory symptoms, please refer them to Wodonga Respiratory Clinic, 224-226 Beechworth Road, Ph: 02 6067 2437 - click here for opening hours and bookings.

In-reach COVID-19 vaccination clinics
For the next 12 months, COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be principally administered in residential aged care and disability homes by primary care providers.

The flag-fall payment for vaccine suitability assessment services has been increased to cover the cessation of the In-reach Practice Incentive Program payment. The flag-fall is paid once for each visit to a residential aged care facility, residential disability facility, or a patient’s home. Details of the new MBS items can be found in this table.

If your pharmacy or general practice is able to provide in-reach clinics, please let Murray PHN know e: covax@murrayphn.org.au

Supporting the disability sector
Murray PHN is helping disability providers and liaison officers to engage primary care providers for in-reach vaccinations. If your practice can assist, e: covax@murrayphn.org.au Practices can also access support and resources from disability liaison officers in:

COVIDthon event 
The Centre for Victorian Data Linkage is partnering with Bendigo Health to run a COVID-focused datathon – COVIDthon – bringing together teams of researchers to explore a range of research questions related to COVID-19, and its ongoing impact on healthcare and service delivery in Victoria. The event will be held at the La Trobe University Rural Health School Clinical Teaching Building on 25 and 26 March 2023. For more information and to register click here.

Pharmacy survey
Murray PHN is seeking contact details from locally accredited pharmacists who provide medication reviews. This information will be included in a new Murray HealthPathway to enable primary care and other physicians to easily contact a consultant pharmacist in their local area. If you wish to have your details included, click here to fill out a form.

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Copyright © 2023 Murray PHN, All rights reserved.

Murray PHN acknowledges its catchment crosses over many unceded First Nations Countries, following the Dhelkunya Yaluk (Healing River).
We pay our respects and give thanks to the Ancestors, Elders and Young people for their nurturing, protection and caregiving of these sacred lands and waterways, acknowledging their continuing cultural, spiritual and educational practices.
We are grateful for the sharing of Country and the renewal that Country gives us. We acknowledge and express our sorrow that this sharing has come at a personal, spiritual and cultural cost to the wellbeing of First Nations peoples. We commit to addressing the injustices of colonisation across our catchment, and to listening to the wisdom of First Nations communities who hold the knowledge to enable healing.
We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Murray PHN (ABN 92 156 423 755) acknowledges the financial and other support from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
 






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Murray PHN · 3-5 View Point · Bendigo, Vic 3550 · Australia