COVID vaccination changes now apply

Requirements for Victorian providers giving COVID vaccinations have now changed
 
The Victorian COVID-19 pandemic declaration Public Health Emergency Order #8 (PHEO #8) allowed emergency workforces to administer COVID-19 vaccines without the written order of a medical practitioner. 

PHEO #8 expired on Sunday 20 August 2023, meaning the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine must now be consistent with the administration of other vaccines.

Nurse immunisers and pharmacist immunisers can continue to administer COVID vaccines under Secretary Approval until 19 October, or as otherwise advised. Other registered nurses and endorsed enrolled nurses may now only administer vaccines under the written order of a medical practitioner. 

For more information on COVID vaccination, click here. Any other queries should be directed to immunisation@health.vic.gov.au

More information:  

• Medicines and poisons recent updates
• Nurse immunisers
• Secretary Approval: Nurse Immunisers – SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) VACCINE
• Pharmacist immunisers

Flood Wellbeing and Resilience Grants
A second round of Wellbeing and Resilience Grants (up to $10,000) is now open. The grants are aimed at strengthening social connectedness and assisting communities with their recovery after the 2022 floods. For more information, click here.

Medicare Urgent Care Clinic open in Albury
The Border Urgent Care Centre is now open to help take pressure off the local emergency department. The Urgent Care Clinic (UCC), which is being operated by Border General Practice as Border Urgent Care Centre, is open from 8.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Click here to learn more.

PPCC and UCC workforce EOI
GPs including GP registrars, registered nurses, enrolled nurses and administration staff who would like additional workdays or hours, are invited to express their interest to support Bendigo, Mildura, Shepparton and Wodonga Priority Primary Care Centres and Albury Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. Click here to provide your details.

Doctors in Secondary Schools vacancy
The Doctors in Secondary Schools funds GPs to provide medical advice and healthcare to students up to one day a week in Victorian government secondary schools. A new GP vacancy has become available in the Mildura region. To find out more or to express your interest, contact Natalie Tremellen, Murray PHN General Practice Engagement Lead e: ntremellen@murrayphn.org.au

Updates from 9 August Provider bulletin

In case you missed it....

Expired vaccines
All Pfizer 12 years+ (purple) and Moderna Bivalent (BA.1) 18 years+ (blue/green) stock has now expired. You must no longer administer these vaccines.

Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) obligations
Under the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015, all vaccination providers must report to the AIR any COVID-19 vaccinations administered preferably within 24 hours and no later than ten working days. It is also now mandatory to record a batch number when reporting COVID-19, influenza and National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccinations to the AIR.

For more, see the full provider bulletin here.