UNE Medical Centre
Phase 1a and 1b of the COVID-19 Vaccination rollout is currently taking place for priority population.
UNE Medical Centre is currently facilitating bookings for group 1b.
If you’re in an eligible group, bookings can be made online. Please note, you must also be a Medicare cardholder. If you do not have a Medicare card you will need to attend a GP Respiratory Clinic.
If you’re unsure if you qualify, please see the FAQs below and check.
If you are a new patient to our practice.
We advise that you book over the phone and arrive 20 minutes early, to ensure we have all the correct information. To book an appointment please phone 02 6773 2916.
COVID rollout FAQs
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has advised the Australian Government on which groups should be prioritised for the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccination in Australia. This advice is consistent with guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO).
COVID advice we have revived from the Chief Medical Officer
Dear Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partner
Updated advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI)
You will now be aware of advice provided by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) to the Australia Government to recommend the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine be preferred for adults aged 59 and under. ATAGI’s revised recommendations are based on new evidence demonstrating a higher risk of ‘thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome’ (TTS) in the 50-59 year old age group than initially thought.
Since first reported in Australia, 60 cases of confirmed and probable TTS have now been reported, with an additional seven cases reported in people between 50-59 years since ATAGI’s last statement on 9 June 2021. Although the overall case fatality ratio is lower than has been reported internationally, the full spectrum of severity has been reported in Australia, from two fatal cases and those with significant morbidity, to relatively mild cases.
The Australian Government places safety above all else and will continue to follow the medical advice in protecting Australians. On this basis, the Government has accepted ATAGI’s recommendations and will move swiftly to ensure Australia’s vaccination program and advice to patients is adjusted accordingly.
Immediate changes to the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Program
In light of this recommendation I would like to advise of changes to the Australian COVID- 19 Vaccine Program which include:
- A preference for the use of the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine in adults aged under 60 years.
- Immediate access to the Pfizer vaccine for people aged 50-59 at the 21 Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics (CVCs) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) already administering Pfizer from tomorrow, 18 June 2021.
- States and territories will work to open Pfizer access to people aged 50-59 at state clinics as soon as possible.
Future changes to the program
Australia has secured enough supply of Pfizer vaccine to act on the new advice from ATAGI. The number of Pfizer sites will be expanded through:
- A further 40 CVCs to commence administering Pfizer by the end of June, and a further 30 will commence in the week of 5 July (70 total by the first week of July). The remaining CVCs will commence administering Pfizer by the end of July.
- Fast-tracking the transition of participating general practices during July, with 1,300 – 1,350 sites commencing Pfizer vaccination over three weeks from 5 July 2012. The remaining general practices which are currently participating in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout will transition progressively to administering Pfizer later this year as Pfizer availability increases.
What you should do now
You may want to contact any patients aged 50-59 who are currently booked to receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and cancel in cases where the benefit clearly does not outweigh the risk.
Patients who have received their first dose, with no major adverse reaction, are strongly encouraged to receive their second dose of AstraZeneca as planned. For patients requesting Pfizer as their second dose, at this time the TGA has not authorised the mixing of vaccines.
Please remain alert for warning signs of TTS in those who have received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. As per my letter dated 11 June 2021, possible symptoms include:
- New onset of severe persistent headache which does not improve with simple analgesia
- Signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure or focal neurological deficits or seizures
- Signs or symptoms suggestive of thrombosis in other anatomical locations (e.g. abdominal pain suggestive of thrombosis in the splanchnic circulation, or chest pain suggestive of pulmonary embolism)
- Signs suggestive of clinically significant thrombocytopenia, such as petechial rash or bleeding, or bruising not at the vaccine injection site that cannot be explained.
Further information
I appreciate that these changes cause additional stress and difficulty to your practice staff and patients. It will also increase vaccine hesitancy among your patients. To help you explain the changes and what it means for your patients I have provided:
- My statement.
- The ATAGI statement.
- The new COVID-19 vaccination consent form.
- A frequently asked questions (FAQ) document.
Yours sincerely
 |
Professor Paul Kelly
Chief Medical Officer
17 June 2021
Phase 1a
| Quarantine, border and front line health care workers will need to provide proof of occupation to demonstrate their eligibility
Quarantine and border workers, including:
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Frontline health care worker sub-groups for prioritisation
*All other healthcare workers are included in Phase 1b, including medical and tertiary students with placements in these healthcare settings. |
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Aged care and disability care staff
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| Aged care and disability care residents |
Phase 1b
| Elderly adults aged 80 years and over | |
| Elderly adults aged 70-79 years | |
| Other health care workers | |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults 55 and over | |
| Adults with an underlying medical condition or significant disability *People will need to provide proof of these conditions to demonstrate their eligibility for vaccination via My health record, a health professional referral if required, or a declaration form. |
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| Critical and high risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing * Workers will need to provide proof of occupation to demonstrate their eligibility. |
Phase 2a
| Adults aged 60-69 years | |
| Adults aged 50-59 years | |
| Continue vaccinating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults | |
| Other critical and high risk workers |
Phase 2b
| Balance of adult population | |
| Catch up any unvaccinated Australians from previous phases |
