Year: 2022

Booster vaccine recommendation

It can be hard to keep up with all the updates on the COVID-19 Booster shot and when it is recommended we receive it. This communication aims to assist you to better understand when you may be eligible to receive yours, and to update you on recent announcements and recommendations for those working in Aged Care.

As you know, the COVID-19 Vaccine has been mandated for those working in Aged Care for some time. Importantly, the mandate requires workers to be`fully’ vaccinated. At this stage, that means two vaccines. On 15 February 2022, the Department of Health published a media release indicating that ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations) have now advised that three doses of the vaccine are now required to be considered ‘fully’ vaccinated.

In short, a recommendation has been sent to National Cabinet to mandate that the residential aged care workforce receive a third (booster) dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of working in a residential aged care facility.

What does that means for you?

We recommend that you book your booster now, rather than wait for a mandate to come into effect. What we know from previous mandates is that generally, there is little time to comply. If you are eligible, book in your booster as soon as possible to avoid the rush, and disruption that a mandate could cause to being able to come to work.

Who is eligible?

Booster shots are recommended for anyone who completed their primary dose course of COVID-19 vaccination at least 3 months ago.

Benefits of the booster dose:

A booster dose will make sure the protection from the first two doses is even stronger and longer lasting, to help prevent the spread of the virus.

A booster dose increases your protection against:

• infection with the virus that causes COVID-19
• severe disease
• dying from COVID-19
• A booster dose will continue to protect you, your loved ones and your community against COVID-19.

Booster doses are free for everyone.

Booking your booster dose:

Find a location near you from here: Vaccine Finder

We also have the following onsite clinics:

• Whiddon Easton Park: 21 February 10am – 2pm, 25 February 10am – 2pm and 3 March from 10am – 2pm
• Whiddon Mudgee Pioneer: 24 February, 11am- 4pm
• Whiddon Redhead: 3 March, 10am – 2pm
• Whiddon Kyogle: 4 March 10am – 1pm
• Whiddon Casino: 4 March 3pm – 6pm

To register for your booster dose, please click on https://portal.companymedicalservices.com.au/onsiteregistration/whiddon and use the Referral code: whid123

Once you have received your vaccine, please send your evidence to payroll@whiddon.com.au as soon as possible.

We thank you for your support and ongoing efforts and dedication to keeping residents, clients and each other, safe.

16 February  2022

Dear team,

As you are aware, the Federal Government is likely to mandate that all aged care employees must have the COVID-19 Booster Vaccine. As such, we are having a COVID-19 booster clinic here on site on:

• Monday 21 February
• Friday 25 February
• Thursday 3 March 

Currently, there are limited spaces on these days, so please book you appointment by following the below link.

URL: https://portal.companymedicalservices.com.au/onsiteregistration/whiddon

Referral code: whid123

If you have already have had your vaccination, please ensure that you forward proof of your vaccination to: EP.Vaccinations@whiddon.com.au

Thank you

17 February 2022

We are pleased to advise you that recent rapid antigen testing of all residents at Whiddon Kyogle returned negative results. This is welcome news. We have not had any residents test positive to the virus to date. We currently have two employees who are self-isolating as a result of testing positive to COVID-19.

In pleasing news, residents are now able to leave their rooms. We are also pleased to be able to offer outdoor visits at this time. If you would like to book an outdoor visit, please speak to our team. You will be required to wear a mask and face shield on your visit, which will be supplied to you.

We will be undertaking rapid antigen testing of all residents tomorrow. Pending these results, we hope to be in a position to welcome visitors back from Monday 21 January 2022. We will provide a further update on this soon.

Our team is committed to keeping you connected with your loved ones wherever possible, via video and phone calls at this time. If you would like to book in a phone or video call with your loved one, please speak to our team.

We will provide a further update to you soon and we thank you for your ongoing support and understanding.

 

14 February 2022

In very pleasing news, we have not had any further residents or employees test positive to COVID-19. In further good news, we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to all areas of Whiddon Redhead as of today.

We thank you for your incredible efforts and dedication during the outbreak. It was great to see everyone working as a team to come together to support the wonderful people we care for, their families, and each other. Your commitment and efforts haven’t gone unnoticed and we are very appreciative of everything you have done. We know it has been a challenging time.

Please continue to wear appropriate PPE and complete a rapid antigen test before your shift. Social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station. Please also monitor for symptoms and do not come to work if you are unwell.

As a reminder, we encourage you to have your Booster shot if eligible and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience.

Thank you once again for your amazing efforts.

14 February 2022

Further to our last update, pleasingly, we have not had any further residents or employees test positive to COVID-19 at Whiddon Redhead. In welcome news, we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to all areas of Whiddon Redhead as of today.

We want to thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding, as we know it has been challenging time.

Visits can be booked between 9am and 12pm and 1pm and 4pm on weekdays at this time (please note that the number of visitors allowed at any one time is restricted to enable management of capacity limits).

Please note the following visitation guidelines:

• Residents may have two fully vaccinated visitors per day aged 12 years and over
• All visits must be pre-booked
• All visitors must wear PPE, including an N95 mask and a face shield, which will be provided to visitors
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and wherever possible, visits should occur in an outdoor area
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting if you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements.
• Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

Please also find a letter from the Chief Medical Officer for families of residential aged care residents regarding the COVID-19 booster. Click here to read the letter.

Once again, we thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Whiddon partnered with Pantonic Health to undertake an industry-leading trial at our largest aged care campus in Glenfield (South-west Sydney). The trial used Rapid PCR technology that can accurately detect COVID-19 through samples taken onsite, in just 90 minutes, eliminating the need for laboratory testing.

Over the trial, using CovidNudge tests, which are portable and accurate rapid PCR tests produced by UK based provider, DnaNudge, 116 tests were conducted.

The trial demonstrated the significant impact that a rapid PCR unit can have on resident care and our critical health workforce, and follows Whiddon’s industry-leading rapid antigen testing trial during the COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak, and subsequent rapid antigen testing trial in Community Care.

Whiddon hopes that the rapid PCR units are approved by the TGA and subsidised by the Government so they can be accessible to all aged care homes and disability settings across Australia, including all regional centres.

Read the full trial or download our infographic with a snapshot of the key highlights and findings, below.

11 February 2022

Further to our previous message, please note that as a precautionary measure, we will be asking all employees at Whiddon Beaudesert Star to complete a rapid antigen test before they enter the care home to commence their shift. This adds an important layer of protection at this time, to help keep residents, employees and visitors safe. Visitors will also be required to complete a test on arrival.

Please note that this testing will be in place until further notice.

We thank you for  your understanding and cooperation, and for helping keep everyone in our Whiddon family safe.

11 February 2022

Further to our previous update, please note that for now, as a precautionary measure, we will be asking all visitors to Whiddon Beaudesert Star to complete a rapid antigen test on arrival. This adds an important layer of protection at this time, to help keep residents, employees and visitors safe.

We thank you for  your understanding and cooperation, and for helping to keep everyone in our Whiddon family safe.

11 February 2022

In very pleasing news, all of the results from this week’s COVID-19 testing of residents at Whiddon Beaudesert Star are negative. In further good news, we have not had any residents or employees test positive to COVID-19 in the last 14 days. This is welcome news.

We thank you for your incredible efforts and dedication during the outbreak. It was great to see everyone working as a team to come together to support the wonderful people we care for, their families, and each other. Your commitment and efforts haven’t gone unnoticed and we are very appreciative of everything you have done. We know it has been a challenging time.

Please continue to wear appropriate PPE. Social distancing must be observed at all times, including the staff room and nurses station. Please also monitor for symptoms and do not come to work if you are unwell.

As a reminder, we encourage you to have your Booster shot if eligible and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience.

Thank you once again for your amazing efforts.

11 February 2022

It has been great to welcome you back to Whiddon Beaudesert Star.

In very pleasing news, all of the results from this week’s COVID-19 testing of residents at Whiddon Beaudesert Star are negative. In further good news, we have not had any residents or employees test positive to COVID-19 in the last 14 days. This is welcome news.

As a reminder, bookings for visits are essential on 07 5542 4700.

We thank you again for your support and understanding.