COVID-19: Latest news for general practices
30 November 2023
This page is continually being added to and updated. We encourage health professionals to also view COVID-19 for Health Professionals.
COVID-19 Statistics for our region
30 November
COVID-19 Digital Certificate Phasing Out
The Australian Digital Health Agency is upgrading My Health Record to allow consumers to add the COVID-19 and flu immunisation history statement to their digital wallet from within My Health Record or my health app. From 2 December, the Agency will be phasing out the COVID-19 digital certificate.
ATAGI COVID-19 Recommendations
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advises that the monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccines are now the preferred COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 years or older and adults receiving primary or further COVID-19 doses, as outlined in the Australian Immunisation Handbook. For individuals who have received the recommended 2023 doses, no further doses or re-vaccination with XBB.1.5-containing vaccines is recommended. With an increase in COVID-19 cases since November 2023, ATAGI encourages all patients who have not received the recommended 2023 dose/s to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Read the full article for more.
19 October
COVID-19 Vaccination Training Closed
In transitioning away from emergency operations, the Department of Health and Aged Care have closed their mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program. Clinicians administering COVID-19 vaccines are no longer required to complete the training modules. COVID-19 reference resources will continue to be updated and available and the COVID-19 chapter in the Australian Immunisation Handbook is now available.
5 October
Changes to Rapid Antigen Testing
From 1 October, NSW Health made the following changes to rapid antigen testing (RAT):
The Service NSW RAT portal has now closed, which means patients are no longer able to register a positive RAT result with Service NSW.
RATs are no longer available at Service NSW locations and recovery centres.
NSW Health still recommends staying at home and not visiting high risk settings such as aged care facilities and hospitals if experiencing respiratory symptoms. See the NSW Health website for current COVID-19 recommendations.
