Face masks in general practice
A number of states have announced masks will no longer need to be worn in most indoor settings.
However, this update does not apply to healthcare settings. Face masks will continue to be required in general practice to help keep communities and practice teams safe.
The RACGP has developed a suite of patient alert posters you can display at your practice entrance to inform visitors of the entry requirements.
We’re writing to all state/territory governments asking them to include this requirement in all public messaging.
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6–11 years
Following recent provisional approval by the TGA, ATAGI has released a statement recommending that Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can be used as a primary course of vaccination in children aged 6–11 years.
Primary care providers can start administering the vaccine to this age group. The recommended schedule is two doses (50μg per dose; 0.25mL, compared to 0.5mL for people aged 12 years and older), eight weeks apart (with provisions for a shortened interval of no less than four weeks for children at risk of moderate to severe COVID-19 in special circumstances as outlined in ATAGI clinical guidance).
Note: The Pfizer vaccine is the only approved vaccine for children aged five years.
A new training module covering the Moderna vaccine for this age group is currently in development and will be available in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Department of Health recommends clinicians considering administering Moderna to children review the ATAGI advice carefully, along with the TGA’s product information. Once the new module is available, all clinicians involved in the rollout must complete it.
A new consent form has been published for administering the Moderna vaccine to children aged 6–11 years.
Vaccine Clinic Finder Connect update
The Department of Health recommends that if your practice plans to administer Moderna to children aged 6–11, you will need to add the new vaccine service ‘Moderna for people aged 6–11' through Vaccine Clinic Finder Connect (VCF Connect).
The option to add this service will become available on 2 March 2022. Your practice will need to add this service to show appointment availability on the VCF.
To add the new service:
- log in to VCF Connect
- go to your ‘Clinics’ and select ‘add a service’.
You can find detailed instructions in section 5 ‘Add a Service’ in the VCF Connect User Guide. You can also call the VCF Connect helpdesk on 1800 316 375.
You can also access the RACGP COVID Vaccine Booking Program education kit, featuring on-demand webinars and education resources covering the VCF and VCF Connect, online appointment booking systems, and real-time integration.
If your practice has not yet registered for VCF Connect, we encourage you to do so today.
Note: From 31 March 2022, all updates to your details on the VCF will be done through VCF Connect (including changes to contact details, vaccine types offered etc).
Rapid antigen tests and proof of prior infection for vaccine exemptions
ATAGI has updated its expanded guidance on temporary medical exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines to reflect that, in addition to polymerase chain reaction tests, rapid antigen tests (reported to the relevant jurisdictional system) are now acceptable proof of prior infection for the purposes of temporary medical exemptions.
NPS MedicineWise: Antiviral treatments for COVID-19 hub
NPS MedicineWise has launched a hub for information on recently approved antivirals and monoclonal antibody medicines that can be used to treat COVID-19. The hub provides clinical information, resources and links to help keep you and your patients up to date with the latest approvals, evidence and guidance.
The hub currently features:
- FAQs about the use of COVID-19 oral antiviral medicines in residential aged care
- a medicine table summarising key information about the medicines
- an NPS MedicineWise podcast episode on the new oral antiviral COVID-19 medications
- Australian prescriber drug summaries.
More information and resources will be added as experience and evidence grows.