07 July 2021

Good afternoon colleagues,

A reminder that all of our health staff are encouraged to take full advantage of our COVID-19 vaccine offerings across Metro North Health facilities. We are trying to make it as easy as possible for you all to receive your first and second vaccine with clinics open each day at a range of locations.

As healthcare workers, you are eligible for vaccination and we are committed to prioritising you for vaccination with the available vaccination stocks over the short term. There is currently a temporary lull in the supply of vaccine, but I expect this will be back to high levels by the end of the month. If you haven’t had a vaccine yet, please register your interest to get an appointment in the coming weeks.

Students. From 8pm tonight (7 July 2021), any student on a clinical placement who is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be permitted to enter Queensland Health vulnerable facilities that are within a Queensland COVID-19 restricted area. This includes all public hospitals, residential aged care, disability accommodation and correctional centres within our Health Service. Of course, students who can provide evidence of being fully vaccinated can continue their placements as usual, as long as they follow all of the other restrictions and PPE requirements during that placement.

Students undertaking clinical placements are eligible to be vaccinated as they are considered Phase 1b, so please direct them to the vaccine website so that they can register and book a vaccination in the coming weeks.

Residential Aged Care Workers. From 17 September 2021, COVID-19 vaccination will be mandatory for all residential aged care workers.  This means that workers will need to have a minimum of one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to work in that facility. This is a Commonwealth requirement that I anticipate will be reflected in the relevant Chief Health Officer direction in the short term. This is in addition to the requirement to have the influenza vaccine on entry. September is not far away (if you can believe it!) so if you have any questions about getting your COVID-19 vaccine, and work in our aged care facilities, please have a chat to your line manager, local Emergency Operating Centre (EOC) or your GP.

Vaccination clarification – which vaccination?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration advises that your second dose of vaccine must match your first dose of vaccine. If you are under the age of 60 and have already received your first dose of AstraZeneca with no severe adverse events, you should continue to receive your second AstraZeneca dose. To get the full benefit of the vaccine, you need two injections.

Vaccination clinic staff are required to check the Australian Immunisation Register to determine if you have had your first dose and are required to give the same vaccine for your second dose. You are unable to change vaccines between your first and second dose unless you have a severe adverse event to your first dose and have been referred to our specialist vaccination service.

Checking-in clarification

A reminder to not only check-in each day when you arrive at work using the Check In Qld  App, but to re-check-in if you have left the building and are returning (for example, on your return from lunch).  This creates a ‘history’ of movements that you can consult or can be accessed in case of one of our hospitals has an area that is declared as an exposure venue. I have found this to be much more reliable than ‘memory’ – check out the ‘history’ feature now by clicking on the three little lines at the top left of your app, and clicking on ‘history’.

The app is a critical tool used in contact tracing and in the event we require it, your vigilance in checking in upon entry each and every time will make a huge difference.

Restrictions remain in place

Currently 13 Local Government Areas, including those within Metro North, are bound by restrictions until at least 6pm on 16 July 2021. This means we are wearing masks, limiting our gatherings and not allowing visitors to our facilities.

Stay safe and keep up the good work – and hand hygiene!

Kind regards,

Dr Liz Rushbrook
Metro North Incident Controller

Metro North HHS – overview of cases*

*As at 04/07/2021 at 1000

**Metro North Health has four recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)   

*** These numbers reflect the cases being managed by Metro North Health.