COVID-19 Vaccination information and resources for GPs

Information on Myocarditis and Pericarditis after Pfizer vaccine

ATAGI and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) have released joint guidance on the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis following Pfizer vaccination following an observed risk observed in overseas studies, especially in males under 30 years of age after the second doses.

The Pfizer Product Information has been updated to reflect this, and a letter from Pfizer advising this change is attached for your information.

ATAGI and CSANZ emphasise that the overwhelming benefits of vaccination in protecting against COVID-19 greatly outweigh the rare risk of these conditions, and Pfizer continues to be recommended for all people = 16 years of age who do not have any contraindications to the vaccine, in those aged 12-15 with specific medical conditions that increase their risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 12-15.

During the consent process, all people who receive Comirnaty should be advised of the very rare risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis after vaccination, and should be advised of possible symptoms, which include:

• chest pain, pressure or discomfort
• palpitations (irregular heartbeat, skipped beats or ‘fluttering’).
• syncope (fainting)
• shortness of breath
• pain with breathing.

Symptoms typically start within a few days after vaccination, and anyone experiencing symptoms should seek prompt medical attention.

You can find further information here: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-guidance-on-myocarditis-and-pericarditis-after-mrna-covid-19-vaccines

Information on Capillary Leakage Syndrome after AstraZeneca

The Product Information for the AstraZeneca vaccine has been updated to include Capillary Leak Syndrome (CLS) as a contraindication for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

CLS is a rare disorder characterised by acute episodes of oedema mainly affecting the limbs, hypotension, haemoconcentration and hypoalbuminaemia. 

Providers should be aware of the information contained in the PI and individuals with a known history of CLS should not be vaccinated with AstraZeneca. A number of documents, including the consent form, are currently being updated to reflect this change and will be shared.

Consent forms:

• Consent form: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-consentform-for-covid-19-vaccination

Patient information sheets:

• Preparing for your COVID-19 vaccine: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid19-vaccination-preparing-for-covid-19-vaccination
• Information on AstraZeneca: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19vaccination-information-on-covid-19-astrazeneca-vaccine
• Information on Pfizer: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccinationinformation-on-covid-19-pfizer-comirnaty-vaccine
• After your AstraZeneca: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19vaccination-after-your-astrazeneca-vaccine
• After your Pfizer: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-afteryour-pfizer-comirnaty-vaccine
• Provider information on consent: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19vaccination-consent-information-for-providers-covid-19-vaccination-consent-and-faqs

Clinical guidance and decision guides:

• Clinical guidance https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-atagiclinical-guidance-on-covid-19-vaccine-in-australia-in-2021
• Selection of 2nd dose in specific circumstances – container page (not yet live): https://health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-clinical-advice-on-the-use-ofa-different-covid-19-vaccine-as-the-second-dose
• Shared decision making guide – pregnancy: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-shared-decisionmaking-guide-for-women-who-are-pregnant-breastfeeding-or-planning-pregnancy
• Shared decision making guide – frail older people: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-shared-decisionmaking-guide-for-frail-older-people-including-those-in-residential-aged-care-facilities
• Shared decision making guide – palliative care: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-shared-decisionmaking-guide-for-people-receiving-palliative-care-or-end-of-life-care
• Shared decision making guide – immunocompromise: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/atagi-covid-19-vaccination-shared-decisionmaking-guide-for-people-with-immunocompromise
• Provider guide on immunocompromise: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/atagi-provider-guide-to-covid-19-vaccinationof-people-with-immunocompromise
• Primary care guide on TTS: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19vaccination-primary-care-approach-to-thrombosis-with-thrombocytopenia-syndrome-aftercovid-19-astrazeneca-vaccine
• Provider information – TTS: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19vaccination-information-for-immunisation-providers-on-thrombosis-with-thrombocytopeniasyndrome-tts-following-covid-19-vaccination
• Patient information – TTS: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/patientinformation-sheet-on-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-and-thrombosis-with-thrombocytopeniasyndrome-tts

Resources for doctors working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients

• Updated guidance on TGA advertising restrictions, explaining how you can inform your patients about different vaccine brands availability in your clinic. This includes social, posters and web content.
• A video animation in plain English that could be sent to your patients’ emails or used in your clinic waiting room explaining what to expect on your vaccination day, side effects and the need for two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
• A suite of talking points designed for healthcare workers, to assist them with having conversations with patients about COVID-19 vaccines.
• Updated social resources with suggested captions to use across your social media networks

Existing resources

• COVID-19 vaccination – ATAGI clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccine in Australia in 2021: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-atagi-clinical-guidance-on-covid-19-vaccine-in-australia-in-2021
• COVID-19 vaccine – Clinical considerations: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/information-for-covid-19-vaccination-providers/covid-19-vaccine-clinical-considerations
• Talking to patients about AstraZeneca vaccine: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/talking-to-patients-about-astrazeneca-vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccination – Primary care approach to thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome after COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-primary-care-approach-to-thrombosis-with-thrombocytopenia-syndrome-after-covid-19-astrazeneca-vaccine
• ATAGI statement on use of COVID-19 vaccines in an outbreak setting: https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-statement-on-use-of-covid-19-vaccines-in-an-outbreak-setting
• COVID-19 vaccine: What you need to know: https://www.science.org.au/curious/people-medicine/covid-19-facts#c19Vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccination – updated provider kit for general practices: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-updated-provider-kit-for-general-practices
• COVID-19 vaccination – Practice Incentives Program COVID-19 vaccine general practice incentive guidelines: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-pip-general-practice-incentive-guidelines
• Information for people with disability about COVID-19 vaccines: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/information-for-service-providers-workers-and-people-with-disability-about-covid-19-vaccines/information-for-people-with-disability-about-covid-19-vaccines
• COVID-19 vaccination – After your AstraZeneca vaccine: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-after-your-astrazeneca-vaccine (including Easy Print)
• COVID-19 vaccination – Information on COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-information-on-covid-19-astrazeneca-vaccine
• Patient information sheet on AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS): https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/patient-information-sheet-on-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-and-thrombosis-with-thrombocytopenia-syndrome-tts
• Information for immunisation providers on thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) following COVID-19 vaccination: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-information-for-immunisation-providers-on-thrombosis-with-thrombocytopenia-syndrome-tts-following-covid-19-vaccination
• Joint statement between RANZCOG and ATAGI about COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women: https://www.health.gov.au/news/joint-statement-between-ranzcog-and-atagi-about-covid-19-vaccination-for-pregnant-women
• COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: https://ranzcog.edu.au/statements-guidelines/covid-19-statement/covid-19-vaccination-information
• Updated ATAGI advice on administering seasonal influenza vaccines in 2021: https://www.health.gov.au/news/updated-atagi-advice-on-administering-seasonal-influenza-vaccines-in-2021
• COVID-19 vaccination – Guide to engage and support aged care workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-guide-to-engage-and-support-aged-care-workers-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine
• ATAGI COVID-19 vaccination decision aid for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-covid-19-vaccination-decision-guide-for-women-who-are-pregnant-breastfeeding-or-planning-pregnancy
• Weighing up the potential benefits against risk of harm from COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-weighing-up-the-potential-benefits-against-risk-of-harm-from-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca
• COVID-19 vaccination – ATAGI guidance on the use of multi-dose vials for COVID-19 vaccination: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-atagi-guidance-on-the-use-of-multi-dose-vials-for-covid-19-vaccination
• ATAGI – COVID-19 vaccination decision guide for people with immunocompromise: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/atagi-covid-19-vaccination-decision-guide-for-people-with-immunocompromise
• COVID-19 vaccination – COVID-19 vaccination decision guide for frail older people, including those in residential aged care facilities: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-covid-19-vaccination-decision-guide-for-frail-older-people-including-those-in-residential-aged-care-facilities
• COVID-19 vaccination – Shared decision making guide for people receiving palliative care or end-of-life care: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-atagi-decision-guide-for-people-receiving-palliative-care-or-end-of-life-care
• COVID-19 vaccination – Consent – Information for providers: COVID-19 vaccination consent and FAQs: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-atagi-immunisation-provider-guide-to-obtaining-informed-consent-for-covid-19-vaccine
• ATAGI – COVID-19 provider guide for patients with immunocompromise: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/atagi-provider-guide-to-covid-19-vaccination-of-people-with-immunocompromise
• COVID-19 vaccination – AstraZeneca vaccine risk-benefit printable: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-astrazeneca-vaccine-risk-benefit-printable

Members are also reminded that if you are part of the vaccine roll out and have any problems, the key point of contact in the Commonwealth to raise these is the Vaccine Operations Centre (VOC) that can be contacted on:

Phone: 1800 318 308

Email: COVID19VaccineOperationsCentre@health.gov.au

Note: The VOC hours of operation are between 7am to 10pm (AEST)