COVID-19 vaccination information for healthcare workers

The Pfizer vaccine is a Messenger RNA (or mRNA) vaccine made synthetically in a laboratory.

mRNA vaccines work differently to traditional vaccines as they don’t contain the virus itself or viral proteins. The vaccine uses genes to deliver instructions to the body on how to make the viral protein that will fight the Sars-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). It is important to note a person’s DNA or genetic make-up is not altered during this process – none of the active vaccine components enter the cell’s nucleus.

When the vaccine is injected into the muscle of the upper arm, the cells receive instructions to build a part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus known as the ‘spike protein’. If a vaccinated person is then infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the future, the body’s immune system will recognise the virus and make antibodies to stop an infection developing.

The TGA has provisionally approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in persons aged 16 years and over. No dose adjustment is required for those over 65 years of age. Vaccination advice for frail and very old people can be found on the Australian Government website.

Full coverage requires a course of two doses, ideally administered three weeks apart, however, timing of the second dose doesn’t have to be exact (for example, the second dose can be given as long as six weeks after the first).

However, if you do not receive your second dose within the above timeframes, there is no cause for panic or concern. You will still be afforded excellent protection against severe COVID-19 infection and you do not need to start the vaccination regimen again.

Please book your second dose prior to leaving after your first vaccination (after the observation period). The second dose will ensure you have maximum immunity. If you do not book your second appointment after your first, you should book your second dose as close to this window as possible. If you are having difficulty finding a booking within this window, contact the GP or clinic where you had your first dose or call 134 COVID (134 628) for advice.

Please refer to Which COVID-19 vaccine will healthcare workers receive? for more information on the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine.

AstraZeneca is a viral vector vaccine. Viral vector vaccines use a virus –which has been modified so that it cannot replicate (reproduce) and can deliver genetic code into human cells. It is important to note a person’s DNA or genetic make-up is not altered during this process – none of the active vaccine components enter the cell’s nucleus.

When the vaccine is injected into the muscle of the upper arm, the cells receive instructions to build a part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus known as the ‘spike protein’. If a vaccinated person is then infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the future, the body’s immune system will recognise the virus and make antibodies to stop an infection developing.

Full coverage requires a course of two doses which can be administered 4-12 weeks apart. The closer you can time it to 12 weeks, the better protection you will have.

However, if you do not receive your second dose within the above timeframes, there is no cause for panic or concern. You will still be afforded excellent protection against severe COVID-19 infection and you do not need to start the vaccination regimen again.

Please book your second dose prior to leaving after your first vaccination (after the observation period). The second dose will ensure you have maximum immunity. If you do not book your second appointment after your first, you should book your second dose as close to this window as possible. If you are having difficulty finding a booking within this window, contact the GP or clinic where you had your first dose or call 134 COVID (134 628) for advice.

Please refer to the full ATAGI statement, the Weighing up the potential benefits against risk of harm from COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca factsheet or the Australian Government website for more information on the very rare thrombosis with thrombocytopaenia syndrome side effect.

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is the second mRNA vaccine that the Australian Government has committed to. If approved by the TGA, this agreement will provide access to the current Moderna vaccine (available in the second half of 2021) and variant-specific versions of the vaccine to address longer term immunity and emerging viral variants. Supply of the variant-specific form of Moderna vaccine is expected in the first half of 2022.

To date, the Moderna vaccine has shown an overall vaccine efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19 of 94.1 per cent, and 100 per cent efficacy against severe COVID-19. It has also shown strong protection of 90 per cent efficacy against COVID-19 for at least six months after the second dose.

The Moderna vaccine has been approved by leading regulatory authorities across the world and is being used successfully in the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, the United States and Singapore.

Moderna is developing booster vaccines to help protect against COVID-19 variants and is conducting ongoing trials to evaluate a 'multivalent vaccine' capable of addressing multiple variants of concern.

More information on the vaccine and how it works will be provided by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) if it is approved.

Phase 1a and 1b

As outlined in Queensland Health’s COVID-19 vaccine roadmap, Phase 1a captures quarantine and border workers, frontline healthcare worker sub-groups, aged care and disability care staff and aged care and disability care residents.

These people have regular contact or are likely to have contact with COVID patients or have a high risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the nature of their job. This includes radiographers and sonographers, assuming they are regularly exposed to COVID in their everyday roles. Note the list refers to ‘staff’ – i.e. not just clinicians or healthcare professionals. It also applies to laboratory staff if they are handling the live virus (if they do not, they are categorised as Phase 1b).

Staff who are eligible for vaccination during Phase 1a of the rollout should have received an invitation to attend their closest vaccination hub.

If you have not received an invitation from your employer and you believe you are eligible for Phase 1a, please speak with your Line Manager in the first instance. Alternatively, you can register your interest in getting vaccinated online.

All other healthcare workers, including oral health staff, have been prioritised for vaccination during Phase 1b of the national roll-out strategy. This cohort may have cared for a patient with COVID at some point, but it was not an expected daily or regular event. This includes non-clinical and support staff (including interpreters), depending on their role and level of interaction with patients.

In addition, adult household members (16 years and over) of those in 1a and 1b are also eligible to receive their vaccination by registering their interest online.

Queensland Health is offering the vaccine to the state’s critical workers such as Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland Police Service, and the Queensland Ambulance Service. Queensland Health is liaising with employers about options available to these workers to receive their vaccination. Alternatively, emergency services personnel, meatworkers and other Queenslanders in Phase 1a and 1b can register their interest in getting vaccinated online.

Please refer to the next FAQ for more information on the status of the rollout or consult with your Line Manager or relevant intranet site for information on your health service’s rollout and booking process.

A very small proportion of patients have developed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) following a COVID-19 vaccination. Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome is also known as Vaccine Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia (VIPIT) or vaccine induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) or Vaccine Associated Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia (VATT) and is a rare and new syndrome. The condition involves blood clots (occurring in body sites like the brain or abdomen) together with low platelet levels. The syndrome has some similarity to heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

Incidence is considered to be extremely rare. Details on the condition can be found here. Data from the UK demonstrates an even lower incidence of the syndrome following the second dose (estimated at 1 .7 cases per million second doses).

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) currently recommends that the COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer is preferred in adults aged under 60 years who have not already received a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.

In people 60 years and over, ATAGI continue to advise that the benefit of vaccination with AstraZeneca COVID vaccine outweighs the risks associated with vaccination. This is based on the increased risk of complications from COVID-19 with increasing age (and thus increased benefit of vaccination), and the potentially lower, but not zero, risk of TTS/VITT/VIPIT/VATT.

People who have already had their first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine without any serious adverse effects can be given their second dose. This includes adults under 60 years of age. People who have had blood clots associated with low platelet levels, or anaphylaxis, after their first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine should not be given their second dose.

It is acceptable for people under 60 years who are already booked in who wish to proceed with their first dose of AstraZeneca to be allowed to do so. You must be fully informed about thrombosis in combination with thrombocytopenia as a rare but serious side effect before vaccination. The ATAGI guidance should be provided to you before proceeding with vaccination and documented in the record that this has occurred.

If you have a pre-booked AstraZeneca vaccination and wish to cancel your booking and await further information before rebooking, contact your vaccination hub, visit this website or phone 13 42 68.

Please refer to the full ATAGI statement, the Weighing up the potential benefits against risk of harm from COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca factsheet or the Australian Government website for more information.

Queensland Health is working closely with the Australian Government to rapidly deliver supplies of Pfizer (including relevant clinical consumables) to more sites across Queensland. It is anticipated each hospital and health service will have access to the Pfizer vaccine using a hub and spoke model as more stock becomes available. Local Hospital and Health Services will keep staff and the community up-to-date with implementation information for their area.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved wider storage and transportation conditions for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Australia (COMIRNATY - BNT162b2). These changes will enable greater flexibility in storage, transport and deployment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine across Australia. However, the complexity in rolling out this vaccine more broadly remains given its fragility.

Both doses of your vaccination series should be completed with the same product/vaccine. There will be some immune response triggered by the first vaccine, with a further boost with the second dose providing the most protection the vaccine has to offer. The safety and efficacy of a mixed-product series has not yet been fully evaluated and the Therapeutic Goods Administration alternating does not support alternating brands of COVID-19 vaccines..

People who have already had their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca without any serious adverse effects are strongly encouraged to have their second dose. This includes adults under 60 years of age.

Both AstraZeneca and Pfizer are able to prevent symptomatic and severe COVID-19 disease. Both clinical trial and real-world data from the UK has demonstrated excellent protection with both vaccines. This study, Impact of vaccination on new SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United Kingdom | Nature Medicine confirms that:

• The Pfizer vaccine, BNT162b2 (also called Comirnaty), is about 90 per cent effective at preventing people from contracting COVID-19 after 2 doses and
• The AstraZeneca vaccine is about 89 per cent preventing people from contracting COVID-19 after 2 doses.

Initial clinical trial data for both the Pfizer and the AstraZeneca vaccine suggest very good protection (possibly close to 100 per cent) against severe COVID-19. The reduction of severe disease is mission critical for health systems being able to cope with COVID, as well as whatever other illnesses are circulating in the community, by taking the pressure off acute services.

Recent research from Scotland also showed excellent protection from severe disease hospitalisation (between 85 and 95 per cent) – even after only a single dose.

At this stage it is unclear how long the vaccines will provide protection from COVID-19 and how effectively they will prevent transmission.

It is too soon to comment on whether the vaccines have variable effectiveness against emerging variants of concern. The evidence we do have suggests there is still protection against severe disease. Ongoing Phase 4 trials will help to provide data to answer this and other questions emerging as this disease evolves.

Booster vaccines may be created/required in future, tailored to variants of concern at that time, similar to the approach for the influenza vaccination.

The priority is to use the vaccines available to us in Australia to vaccinate as many people as possible, as soon as possible.

The magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented funding and global collaboration for the development of vaccines, enabling some processes to run in parallel. This has not compromised scientific rigour as safety, immunogenicity and efficacy outcomes are strictly assessed and safety monitoring continues even after approval.

On top of intense international scrutiny, both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines have been reviewed and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for use in Australia, as will any subsequent vaccine candidates.

This includes careful analysis of clinical trial data, ingredients, chemistry, manufacturing and other factors. This process is amongst one of the most thorough in the world.

AusVax Safety, led by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance publishes vaccine safety surveillance data every week. To find out more visit their website.

As outlined by ATAGI, vaccination is strongly recommended for all individuals 60 years and over as there is a very clear benefit over risk to these individuals (the risk of a serious illness or death from COVID-19 infection in older persons is markedly increased). The risk of TTS/VITT/VIPIT with AstraZeneca is very, very low in those over 60 and the benefit of vaccination is great.

Please refer to our separate factsheets on over 65s, frail and elderly populations (PDF 231 kB),factsheet on pregnancy and breastfeeding (PDF 207 kB) and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (PDF 765 kB).

Please refer to the Is the vaccine mandatory if I want to keep my job? Question for more information on mandatory vaccination.

The AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines both induce immunity to COVID-19 by telling the body how to target the virus but do this in different ways.

The COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19 disease. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, and it takes a few weeks for your body to build up protection from the virus. You may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but vaccination should lessen the severity of any infection.

Even if you are fully vaccinated, it is paramount to continue adhering to public health measures such as physical distancing, good hand and respiratory hygiene, and getting tested if you develop symptoms. Existing infection control mechanisms such as use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will continue to be required consistent with the Interim infection prevention and control guidelines for the management of COVID-19 in healthcare settings.

The evidence on whether COVID-19 vaccination reduces the chance of you passing on the virus is less clear, but early reports are promising. Most vaccines reduce the overall risk of infection, but some vaccinated people may get mild or asymptomatic infection and therefore be able to pass the virus on.

It is likely that any infection in a vaccinated person will be less severe and that viral shedding will be shortened. We therefore expect that vaccinated healthcare staff will be less likely to pass infection onto their patients, families and friends.

Even if you are fully vaccinated, it is paramount to continue adhering to public health measures such as physical distancing, good hand and respiratory hygiene, getting tested if you develop symptoms, and wearing appropriate PPE.

You will still need to follow infection control guidance in your workplace, including wearing the correct PPE. To continue to protect yourself, patients, family and friends, you should continue to:

• practice physical distancing
• wash your hands carefully and frequently
• follow the current PPE advice.

PPE advice for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout have been identified through review of clinical guidelines to identify the types of PPE required for different levels of risk for community transmission of COVID-19. Engagement with clinical stakeholders has also identified where PPE usage in practice may diverge from clinical guidelines.

Please refer to the Queensland COVID-19 vaccine rollout PPE advice 15 March 2021 (PDF 418 kB) for more information.

The majority of adverse reactions to the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are mild to moderate in severity and usually resolve within a few days of vaccination.

Paracetamol-containing products or similar may be used to provide symptomatic relief from post-vaccination adverse reactions.

These side effects are usually mild and usually go away within one or two days. If you experience pain at the injection site or fever, headaches or body aches after vaccination, you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen. These help reduce the above symptoms (you do not need to take paracetamol or ibuprofen before vaccination). If there is swelling at the injection site, you can use a cold compress.

If you experience an adverse event following the first dose, you will still be offered the second dose, unless you developed anaphylaxis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (PDF 261 kB), or any other life-threatening response (which would be very rare).

In terms of long-term side effects, because the vaccines have only been used for a short period of time, there is no long-term outcome data yet.

As with other vaccines, the benefits and potential risks of vaccinating individuals with a COVID-19 vaccine should be considered.

If you have any concerns about the vaccine, ask your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or call 13 HEALTH. Please follow your local HR guidelines should you feel too unwell to work following your vaccination.

People with underlying medical conditions can receive TGA-authorised COVID-19 vaccines provided they have not had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. Vaccination is an important consideration for adults of any age with certain underlying medical conditions because they are at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19.

The Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) advises that both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are safe for people with immunodeficiencies. While the immunological response to both vaccines may be diminished in those receiving immunosuppressive therapies, vaccination should still occur because of their increased risk of severe illness.

ASCIA also advises that regular treatments for immunodeficiencies and autoimmune conditions do not need to be stopped in order to receive a COVID vaccination, but that vaccination should occur on a different day (if possible) from regular infusion treatments, such as immunoglobulin (Ig) or immunosuppressant infusions.

People with immunodeficiencies and/or autoimmune conditions should follow the usual advice from their clinical immunology/allergy specialist or rheumatologist regarding vaccinations or ask for specific advice regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

If you have or have had some type of cancer, where appropriate you will be eligible in Phase 1b.

If you have previously had episodes of thrombosis/blood clots or low platelet count, please refer to this advice.

Please see separate advice for people with allergies or anaphylaxis also on this page. Information for pregnant and lactating women. Information for people aged 65 years and over.

Please refer to the Is the vaccine mandatory if I want to keep my job? question for more information on workplace requirements.

As with all vaccines, allergic reactions and adverse events will occur. Serious adverse events will be very rare. The benefits and potential risks of vaccinating individuals with COVID-19 vaccines should be considered and discussed prior to vaccination.

A TGA-convened independent expert review of suspected anaphylaxis following the AstraZeneca ChAdOx1-S COVID-19 vaccine concluded that there is no increased risk of anaphylaxis associated with the vaccine above the expected rate for any other vaccine.

The panel found that the information in only one of the reports met the required assessment criteria for anaphylaxis. The panel advised that some of these cases may have represented allergic reactions or immediate stress responses to vaccination that may appear similar to an anaphylactic reaction, with symptoms such as nausea, throat tightness or rapid heart rate. Although they might not meet the criteria for anaphylaxis, they still need to be monitored and taken seriously.

TGA recommends that immunisation providers continue to provide adrenaline where they feel it is clinically required.

It is vital to share any allergy history with your immunisation provider and that healthcare workers check for any allergy history.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), also known as macrogol, is an ingredient in mRNA vaccines (Pfizer vaccine) and is recognised as a rare hidden allergen that can trigger anaphylaxis to multiple classes of drugs. Polysorbate 80 is chemically related to PEG and is an ingredient in the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

People with a known PEG allergy or previous anaphylaxis to multiple medications, should see a specialist to assess and confirm their allergy. A full list of the vaccines’ ingredients and other product details are available on the TGA website.

If you have a history of severe allergies or anaphylaxis, you will be required to remain in the observation area for 30 minutes post vaccination.

Please refer to the Is the vaccine mandatory if I want to keep my job? question for more information on workplace requirements.

The Pfizer Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine is now routinely recommended for pregnant women. Please refer to our factsheet on vaccine safety for pregnant and breastfeeding women for more information. The factsheet also provides information on fertility and pre-conception. This advice is based on expertise from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

If you are currently – or soon will be - on maternity leave, you will not miss your opportunity to be vaccinated. Please keep in touch with your Line Manager when you’re ready to schedule your vaccination. The Queensland COVID-19 vaccine rollout has a dedicated timeframe for Queenslanders who were missed or unable to be vaccinated at the time they were eligible.

The experience with other vaccines shows variable durations of protection. For example, the seasonal influenza requires annual vaccinations, because the virus mutates. Other vaccines, such as those for rubella or measles provide multi-year or even life-long protection from disease. While there appears to be some mutation of the SARS-CoV-2, results to date indicate that mutations are limited, not necessarily affecting the target of the vaccines. The scientific community and regulators will monitor whether the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 changes over time and, if so, whether vaccines can continue protecting people from infection with new variants. However, we do not yet know how long protection from any of these vaccines lasts. We will get better insights in 2021 and 2022.

It is too soon to comment on whether the vaccines have variable effectiveness against emerging variants of concern. The evidence we do have suggests there is still protection against severe disease. Ongoing Phase 4 trials will help to provide data to answer this and other questions emerging as this disease evolves.

A Chief Health Officer Direction COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Requirements (Contact by health workers with cases) came into effect at 8am 31 March 2021. The Direction applies to all Hospital and Health Service staff and Queensland Ambulance employees who are at higher risk of having contact with COVID-19 positive patients.

The Direction outlines vaccination, surveillance testing and mask requirements:

• Everyone working with positive COVID-19 patients must be vaccinated against the virus (with at least one dose).
• Staff who are likely to be in direct contact with a COVID-19 patient are to undertake surveillance testing on a regular basis.
• These staff must wear a P2/N95 respirator at all times, where a mask and fit testing has been made available.

For more information visit COVID-19 testing and vaccination for health workers webpage

On Friday, 23 July 2021, the Queensland Health Residential Aged Care Facilities Direction came into effect which:

• Applies to 16 Queensland Health residential aged care facilities and 35 Multi-Purpose Health Services, their operators, and to health service employees engaged under the Hospital and Health Boards Act who enter, work or provide a service in those facilities.
• Requires health service employees to have a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by 16 September and second dose by 31 October to enter, work in or provide a service in a facility.
• Requires employees to notify the operator of their vaccination status, to support the recent mandatory reporting requirements imposed by the Commonwealth Government.
• Requires operators to facilitate access to COVID-19 vaccination, including off-site vaccination.
• Permits an unvaccinated employee to enter a facility in an emergency to provide emergency care to a resident.
• Permits unvaccinated employees to enter in a personal capacity to make a personal visit to a resident, or as a support person for a prospective resident.
• Requires operators to deploy employees who are not vaccinated due to medical contraindication.
• Provides that an operator may seek an exemption from vaccination requirements to address a critical workforce shortage.

More information about Queensland’s Public Health Directions can be found on the Queensland Health website.

The existing general Residential Aged Care Direction No.3 has also been amended to clarify arrangements for students’ placements (see new note in the Direction around these matters). It also clarifies that WHO-COVAX endorsed vaccinations administered overseas are accepted for students doing clinical placements

The COVID-19 vaccine is currently not mandatory for any other worker. Any decision to change this position will be based on the advice of the Chief Health Officer and will be applied consistently through a Health Employment Directive.

At this time no such decision has been made, however further information will be provided should this occur.

Under the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccine national rollout strategy, healthcare workers are eligible to receive the vaccine in phase 1a and 1b.

It is critical that our frontline healthcare workers are given every opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19, at the earliest possible opportunity, to protect and maintain a robust health system.

A person, regardless of residential address, employed in a healthcare facility would be offered COVID-19 vaccine as appropriate according to the phased prioritisation framework established by the Australian Government.

Therefore, if you live in another state, but work as a healthcare worker in Queensland you can get vaccinated in Queensland. Similarly, if you live in Queensland and work in another jurisdiction as healthcare worker, you will be offered vaccination in that state.

Each hospital and health service are coordinating the establishment of their vaccination location, including recruiting and training staff. Contact your local vaccination location to find out more.

The Australian Government has developed a COVID-19 vaccination training program. The Queensland COVID-19 Vaccination Training Matrix (PDF 186 kB) applies to all work roles undertaken on behalf of declared providers (facilities or HHSs) who deliver COVID-19 vaccination services for, or on behalf of, Queensland Health.

This document specifies the training required of each work role involved in the vaccination process, including clinical and administrative worker roles. All workers must comply with the requirements outlined in the matrix when providing COVID-19 vaccination services.

Each vaccination location will determine how cold chain will be managed. Minimising the number of moves for the vaccines is important and sites should be taking that into account when determining their workflows. Central assistance from the Vaccine Command Centre (VCC) can be provided if there is a specific part of the cold chain storage a provider is unsure about.

The Queensland Health Pfizer protocol details the storage requirements for Pfizer and the Queensland Health AstraZeneca protocol details requirements for AstraZeneca.

Information for consumers and patients can be found on the Queensland Health website and the Australian Government website including Easy Read and translated resources.

Australia has entered into five separate agreements for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, if they are proved to be safe and effective.

On 13 May the Australian Government announced it has secured 25 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The agreement includes 10 million doses in 2021 and 15 million doses in 2022 and the Government also remains in discussions with Moderna in relation to establishing a manufacturing facility in Australia for mRNA vaccines. For more information on the announcement visit the Australian Government website.

On 25 June 2021 the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) granted provisional approval to Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd (known as Johnson & Johnson overseas) for its COVID-19 vaccine Janssen, making it the third COVID-19 vaccine to receive regulatory approval in Australia.

Novavax is undergoing evaluation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) but it is not yet ready or approved for use.

The Australian Government has also joined the COVAX Facility as part of a global effort to support rapid, fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

For more information on the vaccine agreements, visit the Australian Government website.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends a minimum interval of 7 days between a dose of seasonal influenza vaccine and a dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine. In their statement dated 8 June 2021, ATAGI advises:

A shorter interval (including co-administration) is acceptable in the following settings:

• Increased risk of COVID-19 or another vaccine-preventable disease (e.g. COVID-19 outbreak, influenza outbreak, tetanus-prone wound)
• Logistical issues, e.g. difficulty scheduling visits to maintain the 7 day interval

An influenza vaccine can be given in between two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

When scheduling influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, providers should prioritise COVID-19 vaccines for patients who are eligible to receive the vaccine now, then they can schedule the influenza vaccination.

For more information, refer to ATAGI’s Advice on the relative timing of administering influenza and COVID-19 vaccines in 2021.

Advice on co-administration may change. The most up to date information will be online.

Individuals will have their vaccination details (name of vaccine, date received etc) uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Record (AIR) as soon as practicable after they have received their vaccination. This will be accessible to individuals through the myGov online portal. In addition, Queensland is considering exploring additional digital options for possible use at a later stage.

Queensland COVID Vaccine Management Solution supports vaccination facilities to administer the COVID-19 vaccine with a simple workflow for checking in people who are ready to receive a vaccination, a process for those getting vaccinated, as well as the collection of information.

The solution also supports vaccination facilities in setting up the clinics and local vaccine logistics and management.

A number of reporting features are also in the solution for national and state-based reporting requirements. Any adverse reaction information can also be captured.

The Queensland COVID Vaccine Management Solution is designed to support the safe administration of the COVID-19 vaccine at Queensland Health-led vaccination locations. The solution captures a person’s necessary details and vaccine information to ensure that the Australian Immunisation Register is updated. The solution will be used for all Queenslanders vaccinated through a Queensland Health-led vaccination location.

The solution will generate information to be sent to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and internal Queensland Health systems for staff.

The Supply Chain Surety Division (SCSD) has undertaken clinical consumables modelling to support the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Division is working with nominated representatives from each HHS to provide guidance on the clinical consumable requirements for both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca rollouts, and to support sourcing of materials.

The Division is also meeting regularly with each HHS to ensure stock levels are available to support the commencement of the vaccine, and to ensure ongoing continuity of supply aligned to the volume of vaccinations being delivered.

Only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for use in those under 18 (16 years and over). At this stage vaccination of this cohort is scheduled for later in the national rollout.

Other COVID-19 vaccines are generally not recommended for children under 16 for the following reasons:

• Children and young people are at low risk of COVID-19.
• Clinical trials for the vaccines in children have only recently begun.
• COVID-19 vaccines are not yet registered for use in children under 16 years of age.

It is possible that these recommendations may change once clinical trials in children have been completed.

Some young people in detention centres in Queensland will be captured where appropriate in Phase 3 of the rollout.

An Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) is a serious, uncommon or unexpected event following immunisation. Under the Public Health Act 2005 and the Covid-19 Vaccination Code, Covid-19 vaccine service providers are required to report any adverse events following immunisation directly to Queensland Health.

The Vaccine Protocols and Readiness Assurance Plans require reporting of an AEFI within 12 hours of the patient presenting to their service. Reporting an AEFI is an important part of surveillance to monitor vaccine and immunisation program safety.

Queensland Health will send all received AEFI to the TGA so there is no separate requirement for a healthcare provider to send an AEFI report to the TGA.

Vaxtracker is an online active surveillance system that allows people to report how their child, or themselves, have responded to a recently administered vaccine, by completing a web-based survey. This is project run by Hunter New England Local Health District in New South Wales in partnership with AusVaxSafety to provide evidence and reassurance for consumers and medical professionals.

Vaxtracker is expanding its collaboration with AusVaxSafety to monitor adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) in people who receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Responses from surveys sent in the days following vaccination by SMS or email via Vaxtracker will be collated and analysed by AusVaxSafety to ensure ongoing vaccine safety.  For further information visit the website.

Please note that completing an AusVaxSafety/Vaxtracker Survey after each vaccine dose is NOT the same as completing an AEFI form.

It is beneficial for Queensland Health and the TGA to hear from you about any Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) you suffer to properly monitor the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. It is not mandatory.

You may also wish to fill out a Vaxtracker survey (see section above). Please see your doctor or call 13 HEALTH if you are concerned about your symptoms.

Yes. It is a mandatory requirement under Queensland State Legislation and Regulation for all vaccine providers in Queensland to report an AEFI to Queensland Health. This includes all Queensland Health clinical staff (such as in vaccination clinics, emergency departments, inpatient wards and outpatients), Queensland and Ambulance Service clinical staff, private providers (such as GPs, community pharmacy and private hospitals) as well as Commonwealth Government Vaccine Providers and contractors operating in Queensland.

Please visit the website for instructions on how to report an AEFI, including if the AEFI is anaphylaxis or death. Please also notify the VCC on 07 36085960 of these serious events.