Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 & Influenza update 436 | 4/08/2022

Dear colleagues,

• Current situation
• Staff COVID vaccine boosters
• Pop up vaccine registration kiosks
• Community RAT distribution
• Useful links

Current situation

We currently have 240 active cases of COVID in our care, including 96 inpatients with 3 in ICU (1 ventilated). There are 144 patients in the Virtual Ward.

Today 484 staff are away from work due to either being COVID positive or requiring isolation due to being a close contact. This number does not include other types of sick leave. Additionally, 68 close contact staff have been able to return to work as Critical Essential workers.

Metro North is also caring for four people in hospital with influenza.

Metro North remains in Tier 3 of our COVID-19 and Influenza Response Plan.

Staff COVID vaccine boosters

To support staff to have their COVID third or fourth doses, we will be running a four-day booster blitz across Metro North from 16-19 August. I will provide more details when we have the locations and times confirmed.

In the meantime, vaccinations are widely available in the community through pharmacies and GPs.

Register your booster

Our pop up kiosks are available across the HHS this week to help staff upload details of your COVID-19 vaccine boosters. We are not providing vaccinations at the kiosks.

Kiosks are at:

• Redcliffe Hospital, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, Education Centre
• Caboolture Hospital, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, Library
• North Lakes Health Precinct, Thursday-Friday 10am-3pm
• TPCH, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, Safe Space ground floor
• STARS, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, Level 3 internal corridor
• RBWH, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, Level 2 walkway

Please bring your vaccination evidence with full name, vaccine details and date of vaccinations.  You can download your full COVID-19 digital certificate (not the green tick) or your immunisation history from MyGov or Medicare, a vaccination certificate from a chemist or healthcare provider, or your COVID vaccination appointment card (with both sides).

If you use a different name for your medical records than your work ID, please also bring evidence of name change (eg marriage certificate).

You can also register your additional doses yourself online. The process is the same as recording your first two doses:

• Download your COVID digital certificate from your myGov account
• Go to the COVID-19 Vaccination Hub
• Choose the +Booster Vaccination option
• Add your booster details
• Upload or drag and drop your certificate
• Save

If you’re not sure whether you have already updated your information, you can check under the personal profile section of myHR.

Community RAT distribution

This week we have already distributed more than 4300 rapid antigen tests to eligible Commonwealth concession card holders through our community health centres.

The collection points are open from 12pm-3.30pm Monday to Friday at:

• Caboolture Community Health Centre, Caboolture Square Shopping Centre, King St Caboolture
• Redcliffe Community Health Centre, 181 Anzac Ave, Kippa-Ring
• North Lakes Health Precinct, 9 Endeavour Blvd, North Lakes
• Chermside Community Health Centre, 490 Hamilton Rd, Chermside
• Pine Rivers Community Health Centre, 568 Gympie Rd, Strathpine
• North West Community Health Centre, 49–59 Corrigan St, Keperra
• Nundah Community Health Centre, 10 Nellie St, Nundah

Useful links

• Find a PCR test provider (including drive through, bulk bill, four-plex) on the Queensland Government website.
• People with respiratory symptoms can make an appointment (often same day) through GP Respiratory Clinics.
• You can find a COVID vaccine provider using the Department of Health COVID Vaccine Clinic Finder website.

Your GP can also provide:

• COVID-19 vaccination
• Referral for COVID-19 and other respiratory virus PCR
• Assessment and management of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses
• Prescription of COVID-19 oral antivirals for eligible COVID-19 positive patients.

Regards,

Louise O’Riordan
Metro North Health Incident Controller