Frequently Asked Questions
WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) is working closely with and acting on the advice of the Australian and WA Government Departments of Health to support the COVID-19 vaccination program and prepare for living with COVID-19 in WA.
WAPHA is supporting GPs and GP Respiratory Clinics with administering COVID-19 vaccines by:
- Responding to queries related to the Australian Government COVID-19 vaccine program
- Providing links to HealthPathways WA; a secure, online portal that includes information and resources to support GPs with COVID-19 vaccination.
- Assisting with the transfer of COVID-19 vaccine stock between practices.
- Liaising between practices and the Australian Department of Health to support the implementation of the vaccine program.
By working with partner organisations, WAPHA is also assisting the Australian Government with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout for people accessing residential aged care and disability support services.
We are continuing to update staff, service providers and general practices across our communications channels, such as through newsletters, and responding to enquiries through our website.
Update 26 January 2022: Read more about WAPHA’s COVID-19 response role here.
- Ongoing COVID-19 Information and resources for service providers updates can be found on the WAPHA website.We have increased the frequency of our Service Provider Connect Newsletter and sharing Living with COVID-19 Special Editions, to keep timely updated information shared with our Providers, if you are not receiving these you can subscribe here.Further service provider webinars will be scheduled with dates being shared through the Service Provider Connect newsletter or on our website.
COVID VACCINATIONS
On 20 October, WA Premier Mark McGowan announced a Mandatory Vaccination Policy for WA workforces. The expanded policy prepares the community for the expected transmission of COVID-19 in WA, and importantly, provides greater protection for people who are at high risk of poor outcomes if they were to contract COVID-19.
Update 26 January 2022: The WA Government has announced a requirement for all workers covered by the Directions to obtain a third dose of an approved vaccine within one month of becoming eligible to receive it. Eligibility to receive a third dose is currently 4
months after a person having received their second dose; and will be reduced to 3 months from 31 January 2022.
To find out if you are eligible for your 3rd dose click here
What does it mean for you as a WAPHA commissioned service provider?
WAPHA commissioned service providers work closely with vulnerable communities and at-risk people. It is critical that health and community service provider staff are protected against the predicted delta outbreak, which will likely occur once border restrictions are relaxed.
It is extremely important for all service providers to review the mandatory vaccination information so that you know when and who within your workforce requires vaccination to prevent service disruption.
Information about the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for:
- Workers in the Primary Health Care setting Primary Health Care Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions
- Hospital and health service workers Health Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions
- Other groups can be accessed
Where can service provider staff and clients get vaccinated?
Information about where people living in WA can get vaccinated can be found using the links below:
Where do I get more information about COVID vaccine exemption?
Information about obtaining a medical exemption for COVID Vaccination can be found in the list of Frequently asked Questions at the WA Department of Health Website.
Information about obtaining a medical exemption for COVID Vaccination can be found in the list of Frequently asked Questions at the WA Department of Health Website.
CONTRACT RELATED QUESTIONS
We want to provide assurance of continuation of financial support into the future for WAPHA commissioned service providers. Regular contact with and notifying your contract manager about any service changes and disruptions will assist the contract manager to support you as best as possible.
During these times WA Primary Health Alliance will continue to reassess the situation with commissioned providers, and if it is determined an unavoidable delay has eventuated, will discuss service agreement requirements and obligations with your organisation.
An overview of contract management where services cannot be delivered to expected quality or quantity due to impacts of COVID-19 on WAPHA commissioned service providers can be found here
WA Primary Health Alliance will work with commissioned service providers to ensure access to commissioned services where there is COVID exposure within the community. This may take the form of changes to mode of service delivery, delivery location, and hours of service provision (amongst others) and this will be undertaken in collaboration with service providers.
During these times we will continue to reassess the situation with commissioned providers, and if it is determined an unavoidable delay has eventuated, WA Primary Health Alliance will discuss service agreement requirements and obligations with your organisation. Regular contact with and notifying your contract manager about service changes and disruptions will assist the contract manager to support you as best as possible.
To determine how prepared your workplace is, please see our commissioned services checklist. There are also a range of other resources available under the COVID-19 information resources for service providers.
It would be reasonable for service providers to utilise WAPHA funding for operational costs associated with service delivery of a contracted service.
PPE and RAT questions
WAPHA has been advised by the Australian Department of Health that the National Medical Stockpile is a strategic reserve and not a general supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE). The Stockpile is only intended to provide PPE where commercial supply is unavailable and there is a demonstrated need or clinical advice for its use.
WAPHA is currently authorised to provide surgical masks to GPs, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and pharmacies that meet specific criteria, and PPE to GP Respiratory Clinics due to their role in testing for COVID-19 within the community.?
Service providers are encouraged to identify and secure PPE and hand sanitiser for workforce and client safety requirements now, and arrange for supply during a COVID outbreak / lockdown.
It would be reasonable for service providers to utilise WAPHA funding for the staff within the contracted service, not all staff across the organisation, to undertake fit testing for the fitting of a N95 mask.
As with PPE, the provision of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to WAPHA commissioned service providers will not be occurring. Use of RATs are guided by the WA Health guidance about the use of RATs.
Should RAT testing be required by WAPHA commissioned service providers in the future as directed by WA Health Public Health Directions, it would be reasonable for service providers to purchase RATs using WAPHA funding for the staff within the contracted service and clients accessing the service, not for all staff undertaking or other clients accessing other organisational activities.
Providers can use WAPHA contracted funding to purchase PPE for the staff within the contracted service and where required, for clients accessing the service.
Fee for service contracted service providers are encouraged to contact their contract manager to discuss the use of WAPHA funds for PPE and RATs required for the contracted service.
EMPLOYEE RELATED QUESTIONS
The Australian Government FairWork Ombudsman has produced a useful resource for workplaces affected by vaccine mandates covering topics here. The topics include:
- Lawful and reasonable directions to get vaccinated
- Stand downs
- Asking for proof of vaccination
The WA Government also provides advice on COVID-19, including:
- Information for employers regarding the COVID-19 Vaccination roll out.
- Employment impacted by COVIDprovides information for private sector employers and employees on employment obligations and entitlements relevant to a range of situations, including vaccination, employer guidance for employee management and employee entitlements
- COVID-19 Consumer Protection information.
The type of leave arrangements introduced by an organisation is based on relevant Awards / Enterprise Bargaining Agreements and contractual agreements between individual organisations and their employees.
Regular contact with and notifying your contract manager about any service changes and disruptions will assist the contract manager to support you as best as possible. During these times WA Primary Health Alliance will continue to reassess the situation with commissioned providers, and if it is determined an unavoidable delay has eventuated, will discuss service agreement requirements and obligations with your organisation.
SERVICE DELIVERY INFORMATION
There are several tools available to support business continuity and service delivery. WAPHA uses Microsoft Teams, but there are other platforms available. Some of these include:
The WA Government activates travel restrictions where there is a threat to a community / region. Interstate, international and regional travel advice is available from the WA COVID-19 coronavirus: Travel to WA website. Information about what you need to know to travel to remote Aboriginal Communities is provided on the COVID19-coronavirus: Remote Aboriginal Communities travel website.
It is appropriate that service providers consider their level of preparedness for a COVID-19 outbreak / lockdown and explore alternative options for service provision such as telephone or video consultations, where appropriate.
How unvaccinated clients are managed by an organisation is an individual organisation’s decision based on a risk assessment process and relevant WA Public Health Directions.
The Safe Work Australia provides advice related to service users and the need for controls to be in place to protect both workers and other customers.
The Australian Human Rights Commission also provides advice on COVID-19 vaccinations and federal discrimination law here.
The Justice Connect, Not-for-profit Law website, which provides legal help for community organisations states the following in response to the question ‘Can an organisation refuse to provide services to an unvaccinated service user?’
Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) also provide advice on what might be considered by Psychotherapists and Counsellors here.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Information about Omicron in Australia is still being gathered and we will continue to seek up-to-date advice and provide information as it becomes known. What we do know is Omicron is classified as a variant of concern based on initial evidence that it spreads quickly, with the severity associated with Omicron still being determined.
Comparative data of various COVID-19 strains and the typical influenza season is limited. Provisional data specific to COVID-19 mortality rates are available on the ABS website. The Australian Influenza Surveillance Report is published regularly during the influenza season, and a key message from the 2020 influenza surveillance report noted a lower activity levels of influenza (and influenzas like illness).
Further information around the impact of COVID-19 epidemic with the implemented health measures had on the Australian influenza season can be found here.
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