Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 & Influenza update 432 | 29/07/2022

Dear colleagues,

• Current situation
• Pop up vaccine registration kiosks
• COVID therapies guidelines
• Useful links

Current situation

We currently have 549 active cases of COVID in our care, including 159 inpatients with 8 in ICU (1 ventilated). There are 390 patients in the Virtual Ward.

Today 638 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, 120 close contact staff have been able to return to work as Critical Essential workers.

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

Pop up vaccine registration kiosks

Next week we will be providing pop up kiosks to help staff register your COVID vaccination third and fourth doses:

• Redcliffe Hospital, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, Education Centre
• Caboolture Hospital, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, Library
• Brighton Health Campus, Monday-Wednesday 10am-3pm, Dolphin House
• North Lakes Health Precinct, Thursday-Friday 10am-3pm
• TPCH, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm (location TBC)
• STARS, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, Level 3 internal corridor
• RBWH, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm, Level 2 walkway

If you’re coming to a kiosk, please download your vaccination evidence first and bring it along. It needs to include your full name, vaccine details and date of vaccination – you can get this by downloading your COVID-19 digital certificate showing details of each vaccination 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). We can’t use the green tick in the Check in app.

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. 

COVID therapies guidelines

The Queensland clinical guidelines for COVID-19 therapies have recently been updated. The update includes:

• a new version of the Decisionpathway for drug treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19
• UpdatedCOVID-19 Treatment Guidelines for Mild to Moderate disease (Adults)
• MolnupiravirPrescribing Guideline – updated to align with PBS criteria
• Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir(Paxlovid) – updated to align with PBS criteria and guidance on renal impairment dosing.

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