Participation in the Covid 19 Vaccination Program

After recent changes in ATAGI recommendations, the demand for Covid 19 booster vaccinations, especially for bivalent mRNA booster vaccinations has increased. The PHN acknowledges that General Practices, Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services and Pharmacies are the most important stakeholder for a successful roll-out of the Covid 19 Vaccination program. The Government encourages all providers to continue to support their local Residential Aged Care Facilities, Disability Support Services and Vulnerable populations to provide in-reach services to ensure eligible people receive their winter dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The following information summarises the steps providers need to consider if they want to recommence or change their participation in the program.

Eligibility: All adults who have not had a COVID-19 booster or a confirmed COVID-19 infection in the past six months are eligible to receive another booster for additional protection.

Vaccine choice: All currently available COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated to provide benefit as a booster dose, however bivalent mRNA booster vaccines are preferred over other vaccines. These include: Pfizer Original/Omicron BA.4/5, as well as Pfizer Original/Omicron BA.1 or Moderna Original/Omicron BA.1. The Australian Government will include the Moderna Bivalent BA.4-5 in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program for boosters in people aged 12 years or older from April 2023. All sites currently participating in the COVID-19 Vaccine Program will be onboarded for Moderna Bivalent BA.4-5 in the coming weeks.

Timing: Administration of a 2023 COVID-19 booster dose should aim to occur prior to June 2023 and at a time of 6 months or greater following the most recent COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection. COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered with influenza and other vaccines.

Sources:

ATAGI 2023 booster advice | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Australian Government. Covid-19 Vaccination. Primary Care Vaccine Roll-out. Provider Bulletin 28.02.2023

Australian Government. Covid-19 Vaccination. ATAGI 2023 booster advice

Recommencing the Covid 19 Vaccination Program

If you took a break from vaccinating, you can easily reactivate:

1. Contact the PHN at vaccine@thephn.com.au and tell them you want to recommence participation in the Program.
2. Advise the PHN which vaccine/s you wish to administer. The reactivation is usually confirmed within a processing time of 2 weeks. Note: You will be able to place orders for vaccine/s once your reactivation has been confirmed.
3. Update Vaccine Clinic Finder Connect to show your changed status through your VCF Connect portal.

Withdrawing or Taking a Break

If you wish to take a break from providing only a certain Covid-19 vaccine, or if you wish to withdraw:

1. Contact your PHN at vaccine@thephn.com.au and advise them of your intentions:
   a) Withdrawing from administering selected vaccines: You will not be able to order these vaccines and will not have to do a stock management report for these vaccines.
   b) Taking a break from the program: you will not be able to order any vaccines and will not have to do any stock management reports.
   c) Fully withdrawing from the program: you will be withdrawn from CVAS and will no longer be able to order vaccines or access some workflow functions
2. Advise the PHN you have no orders pending, have zero (0) stock on hand and have completed a final Stock on Hand Report.
   NOTE: The PHN will not action your request until these final reports have been completed. Once actioned, CVAS will be updated within the next 7 days.
3. Update Vaccine Clinic Finder Connect to show your changed status through your VCF Connect portal.

The current VCF User Guide can be found at vaccine-clinic-finder-vcf-connect-user-guide-july-2022.pdf (health.gov.au)

If you have any questions or are unsure how to log onto VCF Connect and update your information, please contact CV19.Products@health.gov.au or call on 1800 316 375.