CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND CIVIC

12th April 2021 – Important Updated Information regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out

As you will be aware, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has advised that anyone under the age of 50 should not receive the AstraZeneca vaccine due to the risk of developing blood clots. The updated advice is listed in full below.

The Australian Government has this morning confirmed that the Pfizer vaccine will now be available for people with disability, carers and workers aged between 18 and 50 years old, as part of Phases 1A and 1B of the vaccine roll out.Please click here to view the The Australian Government update statement.

This means clients and their support workers will be prioritised to receive the Pfizer vaccine, as soon as it is made available to Civic. Please click here to view the information letter sent to all Civic families regarding this update.

It’s important to note that the AstraZeneca vaccine is still approved for use in anyone over the age of 50 and anyone who has already received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and who has not suffered an adverse event will be able to have their second dose.

Updated ATAGI advice on AstraZeneca Vaccine

ATAGI recommends that the COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer (Comirnaty) is preferred over COVID19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in adults aged under 50 years. This recommendation is based on the increasing risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 in older adults (and hence a higher benefit from vaccination) and a potentially increased risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia following AstraZeneca vaccine in those under 50 years.

COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca can be used in adults aged under 50 years where the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual and the person has made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits.

Click here to read the full ATAGI statement

COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out

Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program commenced on 22 February 2021. In line with information provided to us by the Department of Health, we have compiled information to support clients and families as we look ahead to the roll out of the vaccine across Civic services.

To date, there have been widespread delays to the planned roll out of phases 1A and 1B of the COVID-19 vaccine due to supply issues of both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.

The new advice, and decision to limit vaccinations in those people with disability to the Pfizer vaccine, are expected to further impact the pace of the vaccination schedule.

However, we are well prepared. All clients living in our accommodation services have been consulted with and have attended consultations with their physician where required. Consent to receive the vaccine has been sought from clients and their decision makers, and our sites prepared for the safe delivery of the vaccine on-site.

As soon as we are contacted by NSW Health or their partners, Health Direct, to confirm vaccination dates across our accommodation sites, you will be contacted by the house manager and given the opportunity to attend on vaccination day.

Please note, all information provided is referenced from and available on the Department of Health’s dedicated web page health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/.

Preparing for the Vaccine Roll Out

Anyone living or working in residential disability accommodation sites will be included in Phase 1a. This means that anyone who receives Civic accommodation services will receive the vaccine in the next few weeks, along with their support workers. We may not know, until a few days before, when this will take place. It’s therefore important to be prepared ahead of the vaccine roll out.

A number of resources have been made available for people with disability, which we encourage you to reference. These, including the Easy read information, are being used to support us in our discussions with our clients about the vaccine roll out.

What we’re doing

• To prepare our clients for the vaccine, we are now actively discussing the COVID-19 Vaccination program with them. The Department of Health’s Easy Read documentation is being used to support these discussions.
• During these discussions, we are supporting our clients to make a decision around informed consent to receive the vaccine.
• We are also documenting what supports each person may need on vaccination day, such as having a support person, including family members, there at the time of vaccination.
• Operationally, we are working with the Department of Health to ensure all our sites are suitably prepared prior to vaccination day. This includes the provision of appropriate spaces for vaccinations to occur, and for clients to be monitored after receiving the vaccine.

For more information on client consultations and consent, please click here.

A reminder of our current Pandemic Protocols

As we remain vigilant to the ongoing threat posed by Coronavirus, the following pandemic protocols remain in place across Civic sites and services:

• All staff and visitors are required to sign in electronically using the Service NSW app when visiting any Civic site
• Any staff with symptoms of cold or flu are asked to stay home, get tested, and not return to work until a negative test has been received.
• Temperature Screening is in place across all Civic Sites
• Known hot spots are circulated daily and anyone who has been at a known hot spot is not permitted entry
• Social distancing is in place across all workplaces, and COVIDSafe activities planned for clients outside of the home
• A heightened cleaning regime is in place
• All staff and visitors must continue to wear masks at work and when on Public transport
• Visitors from restricted areas and those who are in isolation or have been tested are excluded from all facilities

If you need to contact us about our response to COVID-19

If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. You can email enquiries@civic.org.au or call 1300 692 484. Please also refer to our website for our most up-to-date information relating to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Services affected by COVID-19

• Supported Holidays remain suspended
• Centre-based activities are running at a limited capacity

All other services are currently running with pandemic protocols in place.

New Services

Additional services including respite and Medium Term Accommodation (MTA) are being offered to those in immediate need.

Remote services have been available since Monday April 20 to existing Civic clients. These include live cooking, art, music and fitness classes as well as access to on-demand content.

Food delivery and food boxes are now also available.

Communications

Civic are committed to keeping clients, staff and families informed. Communications will be sent regularly to all stakeholders and this web page will be regularly reviewed and updated. Please also ensure you follow our social channels on Facebook and Instagram for easy updates.

Keeping Yourself Safe

Coronavirus is a respiratory illness, with symptoms ranging from a mild cough to pneumonia. Some people recover quickly and easily, and others may get very sick, very quickly. The Department of Health website has some key resources to help you if you are at risk, need to isolate yourself, or want to learn more about prevention.

In addition, we have created the following Easy-Read guides:

Easy Read – Staying Well

Easy Read – Coronavirus

Easy Read – Isolation

Additional Resources

World Health Organisation Coronavirus Site

Department of Health – COVID-19

NDIS and Disaster Response – Coronavirus Information

How To Wash Your Hands Poster

Australian Psychological Society – Tips for coping with Coronavirus anxiety

Beyond Blue – Information to help with mental health issues such as stress, depression and anxiety in relation to COVID-19

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

Resources

• Information for people with disability about COVID-19 vaccines
• Consent form for COVID-19 vaccination
• Information on COVID-19 Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine
• Preparing for COVID-19 vaccination
• After your COVID-19 vaccination
• ATAGI clinical guidance on COVID-19 Vaccine in Australia in 2021
• ATAGI immunisation provider guide to obtaining informed consent for COVID-19 vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccination decision guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy
• Supporting people with intellectual or developmental disability to access health care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Easy Read Fact Sheets

• COVID-19 vaccine – Overview
• COVID-19 vaccine – What is it? Is it safe?
• COVID-19 vaccine – Who will get the vaccine?
• COVID-19 vaccine – Where can you get the vaccine?
• COVID-19 vaccine – The Pfizer vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccine – Getting ready for the vaccination
• COVID-19 vaccine – What to expect when you have your vaccination
• COVID-19 vaccine – Giving your consent
• COVID-19 vaccine – After your vaccination – Easy Read
• COVID-19 vaccine – Other information – Easy Read

Auslan videos

• About Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccines – Auslan
• How COVID-19 Vaccines Work – Auslan
• COVID-19 Vaccine National Rollout – Auslan
• Approval of a COVID-19 Vaccine – Auslan
• The Making of Vaccines – Auslan

Other resources

• Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about COVID-19 vaccines
• Information for aged care providers, workers and residents about COVID-19 vaccines
• Information in other languages.

Contact Us

If you are an NDIS participant and you are concerned about your exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19), the Department of Health has a specific hotline to respond to your enquiries. 1800 020 080 (24 hours a day, seven days a week).

If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the National Relay Service to access any of the department’s listed phone numbers. You can visit the National Relay Service website or call 1300 555 727.

To find out more from Civic, contact the Customer Experience Team on 1300MYCIVIC (1300 692 484) or email enquiries@civic.org.au.