5-Minute Catchup

The Check-Up | 11 August 2022

Episode Summary

The Check-Up is a weekly news segment of the 5-Minute Catchup, bringing notable news in a convenient medium. In this week’s podcast we will discuss COVID vaccinations for under 5s, monkeypox vaccines, APNA’s Transition to Practice Program, and more.

Episode Notes

ATAGI recommendations on COVID-19 vaccine use in children aged 6 months to <5 years

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - ATAGI update following weekly COVID-19 meeting – 3 August 2022

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - New COVID-19 safe behaviours campaign

Health and Aged Care Portfolio Ministers - Australia secures new third-generation monkeypox virus vaccine.

Department of Health and Aged Care - Monkeypox

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - Monkeypox resources 

Webinar: Monkeypox update for primary care. 10 Aug 2022

Capital Health Network - Transition to Practice Program.

Breathlessness: Capital Health Network Palliative Care Planning Manager, Ros Kirk. r.kirk@chnact.org.au or 6287 8099.

TGA - Post-market review of antigen and rapid antigen tests

Focused Psychological Therapies Scholarship Application Form

Capital Health Network – PPE request form

Questions? Contact our Primary Care Team via email and we'll be in touch.
primarycare@chnact.org.au

Episode Transcription

Welcome to the five-minute catch up my name is Kate Aigner from the Quality Improvement Team, and this is your weekly Check-up.   

In this week’s podcast we will discuss COVID vaccinations for under 5s, monkeypox vaccines, APNA’s Transition to Practice Program, and more.

To start things off: COVID-19 vaccination news

ATAGI now recommend COVID-19 vaccination for children in the 6 months to under 5 years age group who are at greatest risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19.  This includes those with severe immunocompromise, disability, and those who have complex and/or multiple health conditions.

The recommendation is for 2 primary doses of the paediatric formulation of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine - Spikevax, except for those with severe immunocompromise who require 3 primary doses. The recommended interval between each dose is 8 weeks.  These children will be able to receive their vaccination from 5 September 2022, with ACT clinic details to follow. Links to the ATAGI statement and further information are available below.

The Australian Government has launched a new communication campaign to encourage people to follow public health advice to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Television, radio and social media advertisements have been produced covering vaccination, antiviral treatments and COVID safe behaviours. See the link below for details.

The rates of both COVID-19 and influenza have decreased nationally this week, as vaccination rates including 4th COVID-19 vaccination doses continue to increase.

In Monkeypox news: there are now 53 cases (confirmed and probable) of Monkeypox in Australia. The Australian Government has secured 450,000 doses of the new third-generation monkeypox virus vaccine by Bavarian Nordic with the first delivery arriving last week. Links to monkeypox updates and resources are available below. Also below is a link to the recording of a special webinar on monkeypox held by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer on 10 August.

Last week we announced an exciting opportunity for nurses new to Primary Care: Capital Health Network in partnership with APNA, are supporting nurses in the ACT who are new or transitioning to General Practice nursing, to complete APNA’s Transition to Practice Program. We are now accepting Expressions of Interest for places in the October intake of the Program.  More information is in the link below.

Capital Health Network is seeking people who experience daily breathlessness from a chronic illness such as COPD or heart failure, to be a lived experience collaborator on a co-design research team. The commitment involves approximately 16 hours of paid time, and anyone interested should contact Capital Health Network using the details below.

The TGA is reviewing all COVID-19-specific laboratory antigen tests and rapid antigen tests included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. The purpose of this review is to determine if tests have been impacted by the current known variants of COVID-19, with ongoing activity to assess their ability to detect emerging variants. The TGA’s results table can be accessed in the link below.


Now it’s time for the titbits…

Finally, dates will be released soon for more Capital Health Network events on Canberra Script Digital Health, Women’s Health Services, Monkeypox and Vascular Education. 

And that wraps up your weekly check-up. Did you know that Capital Health Network is always available to answer your queries? If you have any questions about any of the information in this podcast, get in contact with us via email at primarycare@chnact.org.au

Our Quality Improvement Team here at Capital Health Network can assist you and your practice in developing QuIK Cycle Activities – a Plan-Do-Study-Act Quality Improvement Activity which could award participating General Practitioners with RACGP CPD Points by undertaking Self-Directed Quality Improvement. Get in contact with our team to discuss your opportunities for Continuous Quality Improvement.

On behalf of everyone here at Capital Health Network through the ACT’s PHN Program we thank you for tuning in and we’ll see you next Thursday for your next Check-up.

LINKS

ATAGI recommendations on COVID-19 vaccine use in children aged 6 months to <5 years

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - ATAGI update following weekly COVID-19 meeting – 3 August 2022

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - New COVID-19 safe behaviours campaign

Health and Aged Care Portfolio Ministers - Australia secures new third-generation monkeypox virus vaccine.

Department of Health and Aged Care - Monkeypox

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - Monkeypox resources 

Webinar: Monkeypox update for primary care. 10 Aug 2022

Capital Health Network - Transition to Practice Program.

Breathlessness: Capital Health Network Palliative Care Planning Manager, Ros Kirk. r.kirk@chnact.org.au or 6287 8099.

TGA - Post-market review of antigen and rapid antigen tests

Focused Psychological Therapies Scholarship Application Form

Capital Health Network – PPE request form

Questions? Contact our Primary Care Team via email and we'll be in touch.
primarycare@chnact.org.au