![\"Metro](\"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/04\/mn-health-incident-controller2.jpg\" "\\"Metro")
<\/span><\/div>21 April 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n Dear colleagues,<\/p>\n Things never stay the same for long in this new world of COVID-19.<\/p>\n COVID-19 vaccinations<\/strong><\/p>\n We have\u00a0started\u00a0inviting Metro North\u00a0ambulatory patients\u00a0in the over 50s cohort to receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The first text message went out to Redcliffe Hospital patients who were invited to register for an appointment using our new\u00a0COVID-19 vaccination website<\/a>.\u00a0This week, other hospital clinics will commence same.\u00a0I also\u00a0encourage you to use this website to register your family members for a vaccine\u00a0as part of our 1b vaccination roll out.<\/p>\n We are also expecting an announcement later this week from National Cabinet about bringing forward the commencement of vaccinations for people over 50. If this change is agreed to, people from priority group 2a will be eligible to receive an AstraZeneca vaccine.<\/p>\n I know a lot of staff in\u00a0our\u00a0under 50 cohort who have had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine\u00a0have many questions about\u00a0their second dose. Many have asked if they can instead move to\u00a0the Pfizer vaccine. The short answer is no, this is not recommended at this time. Whilst\u00a0we will be receiving more Pfizer vaccines later next month, we still need to\u00a0prioritise\u00a0people\u00a0entering into\u00a0the vaccination program over those that have already commenced a vaccination regimen. Because of this,\u00a0and in line with Commonwealth guidelines,\u00a0we are not currently\u00a0able to support\u00a0requests for change of vaccine type between first and seconded doses\u00a0unless there is a\u00a0genuine\u00a0clinical reason to do so (e.g.\u00a0anaphylaxis to the first dose). We are reassured that evidence to date\u00a0indicates\u00a0good protection against severe COVID disease following an initial dose of Astra Zeneca vaccine, as well as evidence that the incidence of severe \/ significant side effects are even rarer with the second dose.<\/p>\n Clinical trials in some countries are looking at\u00a0the efficacy of\u00a0first dose from one vaccine and a second dose from a different vaccine. There isn’t enough data yet to recommend this type of combination. As evidence emerges, we will be carefully examining the best approach for any additional vaccination requirements and opportunities.<\/p>\n It\u2019s\u00a0important\u00a0you, our staff, and our patients have all the information\u00a0needed\u00a0to make an informed decision about choosing to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.\u00a0The\u00a0Federal Department of Health has created\u00a0the following\u00a0guide:\u00a0Weighing up the potential benefits against risk of harm from COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca<\/a>.\u00a0There are also more\u00a0vaccination resources for\u00a0clinician available on the\u00a0COVID-19 extranet site<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fit Testing<\/strong><\/p>\n As you may all be aware, we have been working hard over recent months to develop and implement a comprehensive staff fit testing program (for fitting the P2\/N95 mask), as part of a core respiratory protection program.\u00a0We will be working as quickly as we can through priority areas within our HHS, starting with those that are working directly with or supporting known COVID-19 positive patients and quarantining personnel, then those that can reasonably be expected to respond to or provide emergent services known COVID-19 positive patients and quarantine personnel, then those that provide services to those that meet the definition of suspect patients in the current tier 0 environment and so on.<\/p>\n I encourage you to watch out for the opportunity to be fit tested and work with your supervisor to ensure that you can access this testing when it is made available to you.<\/p>\n I would like to remind everyone that regardless of fit testing, there is an enduring requirement to fit check your mask\u00a0each and every\u00a0time you don a P2\/N95 mask.<\/p>\n Update on New Zealand<\/strong><\/p>\n You may have seen in the news\u00a0that one day after the trans-Tasman bubble opened, a New Zealand airport worker has tested positive for COVID-19. This\u00a0airport worker was fully\u00a0vaccinated\u00a0as their job was to clean planes that had travelled from high-risk countries into New Zealand.\u00a0While the COVID-19 vaccines do not stop people\u00a0from\u00a0contracting the disease, they are\u00a0very effective\u00a0against serious illness,\u00a0hospitalisation\u00a0and loss of life. We will continue to monitor the\u00a0situation, but we have full confidence in New Zealand\u2019s ability to manage these cases.<\/p>\n Flu vaccinations<\/strong><\/p>\n We are expecting\u00a0delivery\u00a0of our staff\u00a0flu vaccinations late this week or early next week\u00a0(we have received the small amount of VIVAS flu stock for eligible\u00a0patients on the National\u00a0Immunisation\u00a0Program).\u00a0I will let you know once we have these vaccinations and the details of our staff vaccination program.<\/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 21 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 8<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 0<\/td>\n 4<\/td>\n 542<\/td>\n 4<\/td>\n 189<\/td>\n 169,339<\/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>