NSW Health has reminded General Practitioners across the State that at least one staff member must have taken its on-line vaccine care training module in cold-chain storage.
The reminder follows a State-wide audit of GP practices and sees NSW Health working with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian Medical Association, the Medical Council of NSW and the Primary Health Networks to remind GPs of their vaccine care obligations.
Chief Medical Officer at NSW Health, Dr Kerry Chant said NSW Health would be working with GPs and assisting co-regulators.
“While NSW Health does not have responsibility for GPs, we are working with GPs and assisting co-regulators to ensure patients are correctly and effectively vaccinated,” Dr Chant said.
“The new requirement will mean GPs must have staff trained in cold-chain storage via the NSW Health on-line learning module.”
She said random audits would continue to check GP practices.
Dr Chant said that as a result of the audits a number of affected patients had been contacted and advised they will need to be re-vaccinated.
“Local public health units are assessing the situation at other identified practices to determine if other patients may also need to be contacted,” she said.
She said NSW Health had a range of resources available to support general practices’ care for vaccines and the safe administration of vaccines.
The 67-page free vaccine cold chain management on-line learning module can be accessed at this PS News link.
