COVID Vaccination Booster Dose
ATAGI recommends a 2023 COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for adults in the following groups, if their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was 6 months ago or longer, and regardless of the number of prior doses received:
- All adults aged 65 years and over
- Adults aged 18-64 years who have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or disability with significant or complex health needs.
ATAGI advises the following groups should consider a 2023 booster dose if their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was 6 months ago or longer, and regardless of the number of prior doses received, based on an individual risk benefit assessment with their immunisation provider.
- All Adults aged 18-64 years without risk factors for severe COVID-19
- Children and adolescents aged 5-17 years who have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or disability with significant or complex health needs.
ATAGI advises that a booster dose is not recommended at this time for children and adolescents aged under the age of 18 who do not have any risk factors for severe COVID-19.
To book your next Covid vaccination please phone 24134
Vaccination Clinic will be held on 24th March 2023
Traffic light COVID-19 Advice
Updated 23 January 2023
NIHRACS has adopted the Queensland Health traffic light system of COVID-19 advice. The traffic light level – red, amber, or green – is based on the current level of risk in the community.
Due to the lower rates of reported COVID-19 cases in the community and low hospitalisation rates NIHRACS has decided to follow the Metro North HHS and Queensland Health guidance and shift from Amber to Green. This may change if there is an increase in COVID-19 cases.
What does this mean?
- Mask wearing is no longer required in low-risk settings of NIHRACS for staff or patients. The exception will be anyone with (A cold or Flu-like symptoms) such as a cough, runny nose, sore throat.
- This includes the GP Clinic, the General Ward, Pathology, Radiology, Physio, Social Work, Administrative areas.
- The Aged Care Facility (Daa Randa) visitors will be asked if they have any COVID-19 symptoms before entry and if they do will be required to do a RAT testing prior to entry. If visitors are symptom-free they will no longer be required to do a RAT test but will still need to wear a surgical mask as will staff of the Aged Care Facility.
- If you are planning to come to the hospital please call ahead on 22091 or 24134 if you have any COVID-19 symptoms and advise our staff. If you have a positive home RAT test please contact NIHRACS on these numbers.
- As the dental services require close contact all patients will continue to have a RAT test at the door. This is in line with best dental practice in Australia.
- NIHRACS staff, patients and visitors are always welcome to wear a mask in the facility if they prefer and masks will be available.
- Hand hygiene is still very important part of infection control
When visiting the hospital
We are asking visitors and patients to self-identify respiratory symptoms and phone ahead instead of presenting face to face.
To book appointments please phone the GP Clinic reception on 24134 or 22091.
Please continue to help reduce the risks of coronavirus in our small community by staying home if you are unwell, wearing a mask and washing your hands.
Report Your RAT Result
If you test positive on a rapid antigen test (RAT) it is very likely that you have COVID-19.Report your positive test result by calling NIHRACS on 22091
Note: if you took a PCR test at our testing clinic and received a positive result, you do not need to report it. The testing clinic will report it to our COVID Nurse directly
Important COVID-19 update from NIHRACS
(Updated 4 November 2022)
NIHRACS is working towards better access to healthcare for the NI community. It is now time to say goodbye to our locked front door as we move towards business as usual.
We are asking visitors and patients to self-identify respiratory symptoms and phone ahead instead of presenting face to face.
To book appointments please phone our GP Clinic reception on 24134 or 22091.
Please continue to help us to reduce the risks of coronavirus on our small community by staying home if you are unwell, wearing a mask and washing your hands.
COVID-19 updates – Removal of Public Health Directions
(Updated14 October 2022)
- there are no Public Health Directions in effect
- there are no Public Health Directions in effect requiring you to wear a face mask, but you may still be asked to wear one.
- Decisions on mandatory vaccinations for workers are now made by the owner or operator of a business or facility
- Although isolation is no longer mandatory, if you’re sick or test positive, we continue to recommend you follow health recommendations under ‘If you have symptoms or have tested positive’
If you have symptoms or have tested positive to COVID-19:
- it is no longer mandatory to self-isolate at home if you test positive to COVID-19 but Norfolk Island Health strongly recommends you stay home to isolate until you no longer have acute respiratory symptoms
- avoid entering the hospitals or residential aged care facility for at least 7 days and only when you no longer have any symptoms
- wear a face mask in an indoor setting and if you are unable to physically distance outside for at least 7 days after testing positive to COVID-19.
If you get COVID-19, or have symptoms, follow the steps below. These important steps protect yourself and others.
If you learn you have COVID-19 using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at home, report your positive RAT result to Norfolk Island Health & Residential aged care service by phoning 22091
Isolate and take precautions whilst infectious
Isolation is an effective way of reducing the spread of all respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. You should stay at home whilst infectious to help prevent infecting others.
If you:
- test positive to COVID-19 within the previous 7 days, or
- have any symptoms of acute respiratory infection
Norfolk Island Health strongly recommends that you stay and home and isolate, until:
- your symptoms have substantially reduced and
- you gone for at least 24 hours without a fever, without using fever-reducing painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
In addition:
- for at least 7 days after receiving a positive COVID-19 test result or
- while you have any symptoms of acute respiratory infection
you should:
- wear a face mask covering your mouth whenever you are in an indoor setting outside the home
- avoid contact with people who are a higher risk of severe disease
- wash your hands regularly
- practice good respiratory hygiene (such as covering your cough)
Tell your social, work and education contacts to get tested if they have symptoms
It’s likely you will have been in contact with other people while you were infectious. It’s possible you have spread the virus to others (without knowing) in the 2 days before you had symptoms or found out you have COVID-19.
If you have been in contact with anyone during that period, you need to tell them you have COVID-19 so they can monitor their own health and get tested if they feel unwell.
This might include your workplace or the place you study, or if you have children, the school or childcare they go to.
Restrictions on entering high-risk settings
Except in an exceptional circumstance or where medical treatment is required, if you have:
- tested positive to COVID-19 within the previous 7 days or
- have any symptoms of acute respiratory infection
you should not enter any high-risk settings such as:
- a hospital
- a residential aged care facility
until
- at least 7 days have passed since you received a positive COVID-19 test result, and
- you no longer have any symptoms.
The operators of high-risk settings may choose to impose restrictions or conditions on people who have recently tested positive to COVID-19 or had any symptoms of acute respiratory infection, such as:
- isolation processes for patients and residents
- conditions or restrictions for staff returning to work
- visitors attending the high-risk setting. (eg NIHRACS)
If you who have tested positive to COVID-19 within the previous 7 days or have any symptoms of acute respiratory infection and there are extenuating compassionate reasons for visiting a high-risk setting (e.g., end-of-life), please contact the NIHRACS NUM on 22091 to discuss if this can be safely arranged.
There are no restrictions or limitations if you are seeking to enter a high-risk facility if you require medical care. However, where possible you should advise the phone ahead and advise that you are a diagnosed person or have acute respiratory symptoms and comply with any conditions to manage the risk to staff, patients, residents, clients and visitors to the facility.
Manage your symptoms and health
Most people who are fully vaccinated will be able to care for themselves at home, like you would for other viruses.
You may have symptoms like a fever, cough, headache or a sore throat. You may feel unwell for a day or 2, and then start to feel better. Some fully vaccinated people will have no symptoms at all.
If you’re unsure whether you need medical care for your symptoms or if you feel you might require medical assessment or treatment, you can:
- contact the NIHRACS GP Clinic on 22091
- use the healthdirect Australia COVID-19 Symptom and Antiviral Eligibility Checker
You may benefit from antiviral medicines if you are at high risk of developing severe illness. Find out who may be eligible and what to do to prepare.
You should seek medical advice if you:
- are not improving after 2 or 3 days, or are getting sicker
- have a chronic health condition
- are pregnant.
Keep a COVID-19 symptom diary (PDF, 2 MB), so you can track if your symptoms get worse.
Only call Triple Zero (000) or go to an emergency department if you have severe symptoms..
While you are staying home, use our tips on looking after your mental wellbeing and keeping healthy and active at home.
If you are worried about your mental health, read about when to seek help and the mental health services available to support you.
If you need any other support while you’re in isolation, please phone the red cross on 50506.
For more information
Please phone the Norfolk Island Health and residential aged care service on 22091
Media Release 14 October 2022
Important COVID-19 announcement on COVID-19 Reinfection Period
Late on Friday (8 July) the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) released a change of advice regarding the COVID-19 reinfection period:
AHPPC advises that the reinfection period be reduced from 12 weeks to 28 days. People who test positive to COVID-19 more than 28 days after ending isolation due to previous infection should be reported and managed as new cases.
This means the 12 week ‘halo’ period where people do not test for COVID-19 or be subject to a 5-day home isolation order has in effect being reduced from 12 weeks to 4 weeks.
In their advice, AHPPC indicated that reinfections with the more transmissible BA.4/BA.5 subvariants may occur as early as 28 days after recovery from a previous COVID-19 infection.
NIHRACS has updated its test/isolation directions for recovered COVID-19 cases to align with this advice.
The Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are now seen as the dominant strains of COVID-19 in Australia, and it is expected there will be increased numbers of reinfections among those who have previously had COVID- 19.