COVID-19

To deliver the most efficient and effective distribution and delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine, general practice, GP Respiratory Clinics, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), and pharmacies were tasked with the frontline primary care delivery of a safe and efficient vaccine rollout.  

NQPHN continued to support and coordinate vaccine onboarding and delivery between primary care and ACCHOs for the benefit of our communities, while also promoting access to pharmacies for vaccinations.  

Key successes relating to COVID-19 vaccination included:  

• RACF Christmas Blitz (in-reach COVID-19 vaccinations): NQPHN commissioned a vaccination provider to deliver in-reach vaccination clinics to 16 Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) across the region with 255 vaccinations administered. More than 130 residents were vaccinated – these residents would not have been vaccinated without this initiative.

• Rollout of COVID-19 vaccine in general practice: This included onboarding and reporting, and distribution of regular COVID-19 vaccination updates as per Department of Health and Aged Care’s (DoHACs) instructions.  
• Under five vaccination campaign: A cross-jurisdictional, cross-agency, cross-PHN campaign, including development and distribution of 10,000 postcards summarising COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for under five-year-olds for distribution to general practices, ACCHOs, and disability providers.    
• Supporting rural communities’ access to COVID-19 vaccinations: For example, with the withdrawal of Queensland Health vaccination clinics in September 2022, the population of Clermont, including RACF residents, were left with no access to COVID vaccinations. NQPHN, in partnership with Isaac Regional Council, local general practices, local pharmacies, and DoHAC, coordinated and funded a series of vaccination clinics in Clermont leading up to Christmas 2022, with 73 vaccinations delivered by a commissioned vaccine provider.  

Key successes relating to other COVID-19 initiatives included:  

• $775,000 in grants distributed: This increased capacity and capability required by general practice in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to position general practice to better respond to disasters and emergences (155 grants over a six-week period).  

• Monthly contact with all 65 RACFs across North Queensland with more than 425 individual contacts occurring with these facilities.  
• Commissioned home visits for people affected by COVID-19 which saw 81 home visits funded during this program, with the majority of patients being in RACFs.  
• Winter Wellness campaign developed and distributed resources to support general practice, ACCHOs, and pharmacy.  
• Primary care huddles co-facilitated four primary care huddles with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service with 38 attendees.  
• Developed and distributed three reports highlighting the outstanding work of general practice, pharmacy and residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic  

• Funded music video in Yarrabah: The community and school children created a music video in local language to inspire healthier living and promote vaccination. Watch the music video, here.    
• Indigenous health workers: Short-term employment of Indigenous Health Workers in community to develop and deliver localised COVID-19 information sessions. Resources developed in local language.  
• NQPHN, in partnership with Gold Coast PHN, hosted and facilitated Queensland-wide Long COVID webinar which resulted in 124 attendees.    
• Maintained COVID-19 website to support primary care access to validated sources.

General Practice Respiratory Clinics (GPRCs) in North Queensland continued to play a key role in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, administering age-appropriate COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.  

Key successes included:  

• NQPHN continued to support the final two GPRC clinics in North Queensland, which both ceased operations on 30 March 2023. These two practices had been GPRCs for the full duration of the pandemic.  
• NQPHN, on behalf of DoHAC, also distributed information regarding the GP-Led Respiratory Clinic Panel Approach to Market initiative.  

Read the GPRC Our Region, Our People story, here.

The demand for and access to, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) continued to be a significant issue during the COVID-19 pandemic response, locally, nationally, and internationally. General practices, ACCHOs, and pharmacies needed to rapidly incorporate the use of PPE into all levels of their service delivery, from frontline reception to consultation. 

NQPHN continued to process a large volume of PPE orders from the National Medical Stockpile (NMS) on behalf of the Department. The final distribution of PPE to primary care providers occurred in mid-December 2022. 

PPE included surgical masks, surgical gloves, P2/N95 masks, surgical gowns, medical goggles, face shields, bottles of hand sanitiser, and pulse oximeters. 

Working under a strategic communications plan, NQPHN acted as a key conduit and source of information for healthcare providers and the community throughout the response, vaccination, and Living with COVID phases of the pandemic, collaborating with federal, state, and local government, as well as non-government organisations, on delivering key messages to the primary care sector relating to the virus.