Published 9th March 2021
Thank you to all residential aged care facilities (RACFs) for your extensive preparation and cooperation in participating at the start of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination program. The vaccines that have been safely distributed to our priority aged care residents have been well received and they are excited to be participating at this early stage of the rollout.
The roll out is a highly complex logistical operation, both for the storage and handling of the temperature sensitive vaccines, availability of a skilled workforce and sensitive management of the needs of aged care residents and workers. We are continually reviewing processes to ensure efficient and safe practises are upheld, particularly for our most vulnerable.
Some facilities have needed to be rescheduled this week to accommodate vaccine delivery windows, workforce availability, consent arrangements at the RACF and cold chain management. For those sites affected by changes at short notice, we understand the impost this has had on your staff and residents. The Department and the Vaccine Operations Centre is working closely with RACFs and the Primary Health Networks to manage rollout scheduling and to ensure information is being effectively communicated with as much notice as possible.
All RACFs should contact your local Primary Health Network for all enquiries and issues relating to vaccination at your site. The exception is if your RACF has already been contacted by the vaccine workforce provider, ASPEN or HealthCare Australia (HCA), for a scheduled vaccination day within the next fortnight. In this instance please contact your ASPEN or HealthCare Australia contact.
On 23 February 2021, two residents at a residential aged care facility in Queensland were given more than the prescribed dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Both patients are being closely monitored by clinical teams in hospital and will continue to be observed as a precaution.
After investigation, HCA advised the Department that the vaccine administrator (doctor) had not completed the mandatory training prior. This event is an important reminder that all healthcare workers who are planning to administer the vaccine must undertake the free online training.
Residential aged care facilities are requested to report any clinical incidents immediately to the Vaccine Operations Centre (VOC). The VOC can be contacted 7 days on 1800 318 208 during the hours of 7am-10pm AEDT.
The number of doses to be allocated for each RACF have been based on best estimates. In the event that there are insufficient doses for the number of residents who wish to be vaccinated, the vaccination workforce provider and the additional required vaccines will be provided to the RACF to ensure all residents who wish to be vaccinated can be.
A document maps how enquiries will be triaged at different points of site scheduling. The document provides contact points, including numbers for queries in relation to vaccinations days as well as the primary contact nominated for each PHN. Additionally, state and territory manager contacts for our jurisdictional officers are also included for easy referencing.
There have been a small number of instances where a RACF staff member has taken receipt of COVID vaccines, in the absence of a workforce provider (either HCA or Aspen).
The workforce provider has a legal obligation to take receipt of the vaccine as they are responsible for maintaining cold-chain integrity of the vaccines. RACFs should not accept vaccines.
Any COVID vaccine deliveries to a RACF where the vaccine team is not present should be reported immediately to Vaccine Operations Centre, and the box should be stored securely unopened.
An aged care staff eligibility factsheet provides guidance of who should be considered ‘staff’ for the purposes of phase 1a of the COVID-19 vaccination program.
Guidance is available for aged care facilities on monitoring patients after administration of COVID-19 vaccines. Information includes:
View the information sheet online.
The Department of Health has published a decision guide to help people who are frail or very old, including those living in residential aged care facilities and their representatives, make an informed decision about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
The guide includes information about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, risks for older people, and current known side effects. Please share this information with RACFs, families, carers and substitute decision-makers.
Translations of COVID-19 vaccine information for the aged care sector is available online in 64 languages via the links below.
We encourage you to pass on the following translated information to your residents and contacts. Translations include:
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) hosted their second COVID-19 vaccine webinar on Tuesday 23 February to discuss the consent process for the COVID-19 vaccination and how to facilitate supported decision making in the aged care setting. Watch the replay online.
Keep up to date with trusted information
You can find more information, including translated information, and subscribe to receive the COVID-19 Vaccines Updates on our COVID-19 vaccines website.
The screening advice for residential aged and home care services has been updated on 25 February. Providers are encouraged to read the full advice which is available on the following web pages:
The major changes for aged care facilities in NSW are:
Aged Care Providers are reminded to stay up to date with advice and Directions on NSW Health’s website and to check for these updates regularly.
In Queensland, Aged Care Direction no.24 came into effect on 20 February. Providers are encouraged to read the full direction, which can be found here.
The major changes for aged care providers in Queensland are:
Preparation is essential in ensuring staff and management effectively identify, respond to, and manage a potential COVID-19 outbreak in a residential aged care facility.
The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC), using feedback and information from aged care facilities and stakeholders, has produced a good practice guide.
The guide provides direction on creating and reviewing an Outbreak Management Plan (OMP) tailored to individual facility requirements, including triggers for activation and escalation.
Source:Unknown Author, 2021, Department of Health (https://www.health.gov.au/)
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