What you need to know about the new COVID-19 antivirals
Following recent provisional approval by the TGA, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir) will soon be available in Australia for the treatment of COVID-19.
Read the important information on the drugs’ specific indications and contraindications on newsGP.
You can also watch a recording of the 7 February Department of Health update webinar, co-hosted by RACGP President Dr Karen Price, which outlined access arrangements for the medicines and addressed audience questions.
The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce has released treatment recommendations for both Paxlovid and Lagevrio.
Read the newsGP article Watch the webinar recording
Managing COVID-19 at home – Online patient guide
The RACGP’s has released an online version of the patient resource Managing COVID-19 at home with assistance from your general practice, which has been adapted for people who do not require additional support from their GP while self-managing their illness at home.
You may consider linking this and other patient resources from your practice website and sharing with patients who notify you of a positive result but who do not require your supervision.
Access the online guide
ATAGI guidance on Pfizer COVID-19 booster for people aged 16–17 years
Following recent provisional approval by the TGA, ATAGI has provided guidance on the use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for adolescents aged 16–17 years (noting this is the only vaccine currently registered as a booster dose in this age group), including that:
- a Pfizer booster is recommended for all adolescents aged 16–17 years who have previously received any TGA-approved or recognised vaccine for their primary vaccine schedule, from three months after receiving their last primary dose
- adolescents who are severely immunocompromised and have received a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine should also receive a booster dose (fourth dose) of the Pfizer vaccine when they become eligible (ie from three months after receiving their third primary dose).
- adolescents who have had COVID-19 and are now eligible for a booster are still recommended to receive their booster dose. The booster dose can be administered immediately after recovery from acute illness or can be deferred for up to four months.
The Department of Health implemented these changes immediately, meaning eligible adolescents aged 16–17 years can now book to receive their booster dose.
Read the recommendations in full
COVID-19 vaccination training program updates – Novovax
The COVID-19 vaccination training program modules have been updated and now include ATAGI recommendations on the use of the Novovax COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 18 years and older.
The Novavax training module must be completed prior to administering the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, the rollout of which is scheduled to begin on 21 February 2022.
You can find a summary of updates in the Training Announcement Board in the 'Welcome' banner above the modules.
Remember, you can claim CPD activity points for reviewing all training program updates and completing additional training.
To claim these points:
- Visit Quick Log.
- Log in to your account.
- Complete the form with your hours and activity details.
- Click ‘submit’ and the points are automatically recorded in your myCPD.
If you have any questions, email cpd.national@racgp.org.au
Reporting overseas-administered COVID-19 vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register
People who have received an approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine while overseas can have their vaccinations recorded in the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) by an approved vaccination provider once they return to Australia. Vaccination documentation must be provided in English (original or translated) and the person must be present during the consultation (either in person or via telehealth if eligible) to confirm the information provided.
You can request extra supporting information if you receive insufficient information or suspect fraudulent evidence has been provided. You are not required to report the vaccination to the AIR if you do not believe the evidence provided is sufficient.
You are encouraged to enter as much vaccine information as possible. You must report the:
- brand name
- dose number
- date of administration
- batch number
- country of administration (for overseas-administered vaccines).
If you cannot confirm the batch number, you should enter ‘not recorded’ in that field. If you are unable to record the country of administration using your clinical information system (CIS), you can enter this information directly into the AIR website. Using the latest version of your CIS will help ensure reporting requirements are met.
General practice accreditation extension requests due to COVID-19
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) has advised that general practices can apply for an extension to their accreditation assessment if they are located where there is a public health order in place that prevents a scheduled on-site accreditation assessment.
If your practice needs to apply for an extension for this reason, you should first speak with your accreditation agency before submitting a request. Extension requests can be submitted to the ACSQHC using its existing process. You can find the application form, approval criteria and more information on the ACSQHC website.
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