![\"Metro](\"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/04\/mn-health-incident-controller2.jpg\" "\\"Metro")
<\/span><\/div>16 April 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n Dear colleagues,<\/p>\n Vaccination update<\/strong><\/p>\n We have been informed\u00a0this week\u00a0that there will be more\u00a0Pfizer vaccine\u00a0available for us to distribute from\u00a0mid-May.\u00a0While I cannot guarantee the\u00a0exact\u00a0timing of this, I want to share all the information that we have available to us, so that\u00a0staff\u00a0and the community we serve\u00a0can make an informed decision about\u00a0when they will be vaccinated and\u00a0which vaccine they choose to receive.<\/p>\n This, together with the recent approval of wider storage and transportation changes (allowing for short term storage of the Pfizer vaccine at normal freezer temperatures),\u00a0means that we will be able to offer both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines from more of our vaccination hubs\u00a0in the near future.<\/p>\n Needless to say, it\u2019s\u00a0going to be a very busy four weeks of training, planning and coordinating logistics to make this\u00a0happen.<\/p>\n I\u2019m\u00a0also\u00a0excited to share that my parents were recently safely vaccinated with AstraZeneca. My mum had very mild transient sore arm, and my dad had a fever overnight that settled with paracetamol.\u00a0I am very excited that they are now busily mounting an immune response and will be protected against the effects of\u00a0COVID-19\u00a0(physiology is such a wonderful thing) should they encounter it in the future.<\/p>\n We\u00a0still\u00a0are continuing to vaccinate health staff and other frontline workers, such as ambulance, police and quarantine workers in the 1a cohort.\u00a0We are now also offering vaccinations to existing patients\u00a0of ours\u00a0in the priority 1b cohort and broader healthcare workers, as well as household members of the 1a cohort and healthcare workers.<\/p>\n You can now visit our new\u00a0COVID-19 vaccination website<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0pre-register\u00a0for\u00a0a vaccine.\u00a0Once you are pre-registered, an account for the State Vaccination System will be created, and this will enable you to book an appointment at any of our vaccination clinics.\u00a0Please be patient if the clinic you want to book at is not yet available\u00a0– more appointments will be open each week.<\/p>\n This\u00a0new\u00a0website also\u00a0holds\u00a0general\u00a0information about\u00a0both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines as well as information for clinicians\u00a0in relation to the use and common side effects of each vaccine, and links to adverse event reporting information.<\/p>\n COVID-19 PPE\u00a0and fit testing<\/strong><\/p>\n While Metro North has moved back to Tier 0 and Low Risk PPE requirements, it is important we maintain the necessary PPE requirements across\u00a0all of\u00a0our healthcare settings, including our\u00a0community settings.\u00a0Community and Oral\u00a0Health bedded services align\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0hospital\u00a0setting matrix<\/a>, while our ambulatory services align\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0community health and in-home setting matrix<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our fit testing program has got off to a flying start \u2013 commencing with our COVID wards and Quarantine hotel workers. In the short term, we will move to fit testing\u00a0our ED, ICU and Critical Care\u00a0workers.\u00a0So that we can expand our program, the Clinical Skills Development Service (CSDS)\u00a0is\u00a0coordinating fit testing training\u00a0over the next few weeks. This program has been in planning for some\u00a0time\u00a0and it is great to see it being rolled out.\u00a0Please look out for when your department is scheduled for fit testing\u00a0and take the opportunity to be fit tested when it arises.<\/p>\n International arrivals<\/strong><\/p>\n The Prime Minister has announced that\u00a0the current\u00a0reduction of international arrivals into Brisbane (capped at 650\u00a0per week),\u00a0suspension of international passenger arrivals from Papua New Guinea into Cairns and the 25% reduction\u00a0of arrivals from PNG\u00a0into Brisbane will continue until 11.59 pm on 27 April 2021.\u00a0This reduction in international arrivals has resulted in an expected reduction of positive COVID-19 patients in our hospitals.<\/p>\n After the 27 April we will see increased arrivals\u00a0(new cap of 1300 per week)\u00a0back into Brisbane. This means that we can expect an increased number of COVID-19 cases from these returned\u00a0travelers\u00a0in May. I am confident\u00a0and comforted\u00a0that our\u00a0Emergency Departments, Low Acuity wards, Infectious Disease wards, Intensive Care Units and\u00a0all of\u00a0the key support areas are fully prepared to continue this vital work.<\/p>\n In closing<\/strong><\/p>\n With this being our first weekend without restrictions, I hope you all manage to go\u00a0out and enjoy yourselves.\u00a0I encourage you all to carry a mask with you when you go out, in case you find yourself in a crowd, and remember to keep practicing good hand hygiene and\u00a0physical distancing.<\/p>\n Regards,<\/p>\n Dr Liz Rushbrook Metro North HHS \u2013 overview of cases*<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Virtual Ward \/ HITH \/ or similar<\/strong><\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Deaths<\/strong><\/p>\n **<\/strong><\/td>\n Total cases managed by HHS (including recovered)<\/strong><\/p>\n ***<\/strong><\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n #<\/strong><\/p>\n of clinics<\/strong><\/td>\n Presentations<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n ICU-NOT Ventilated<\/strong><\/td>\n ICU-Ventilated<\/strong><\/td>\n TOTAL^<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n *With effect 16 April 2021, 1000
\nMetro North Incident Controller<\/p>\n\n\n
\n \u00a0<\/strong>
\nHHS<\/strong><\/td>\nPatients being managed by HHS<\/strong><\/td>\n FEVER Clinics<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Total\u00a0In-patients<\/strong><\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \n <\/td>\n ICU Pts<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Last 24 hrs<\/strong><\/td>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \u202f\u202fMN TOTAL<\/td>\n 13<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 4<\/td>\n 540<\/td>\n 4<\/td>\n 207<\/td>\n 168,283<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/span>**Metro North has four recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)
\n<\/span>*** These numbers reflect the cases being managed by Metro North.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>