South West Healthcare has restarted COVID-19 vaccinations after a festive period shutdown, and will begin readmitting COVID-19 positive patients at the Warrnambool Base Hospital in preparation for an anticipated rise in infections locally.
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Port Fairy's Tommy Greene was among the first to receive a third COVID-19 vaccine dose when the city's vaccination centre reopened for 2022.
The well-known teacher was relieved to receive his booster shot after booking in ahead of time.
"I wanted to follow the medical advice," Mr Greene said on Friday morning.
"We're all in this together."
The vaccination centre at Sam's Warehouse is fully booked for the first four days of operations, with 2000 people booked in for a third COVID-19 vaccine.
Walk-ins are currently not available, SWH vaccination and testing nurse unit manager Kate White said.
"We would like to see everyone get their booster, and SWH are working hard to help the community do this," Ms White said.
"Bookings are essential as they allow us to manage our staff, plan our operations and allow us to manage the vaccine itself as a resource. When demand is high, bookings are essential.
"As a healthcare service and a community we have had to roll with a lot of rapid changes, and everyone is doing a great job. If the demand wanes and we find that we have capacity to be more flexible and offer walk-in appointments we will let the community know."
The call centre number is: 1800 675 398.
To book click this link: https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/book/
The community is advised the wait time is up to an hour today.
"Please also note that a booking secures your place, but there is still a little time required to get through the vaccinations, so there will be a wait.
"At peak times you may wait for up to an hour today. If you require assistance while standing please let our staff know."
COVID-19 patients to be admitted as cases grow
South West Healthcare will recommence admitting COVID patients requiring hospitalisation from Monday January 10.
Before now, any COVID-19 positive patients from the south-west, including Warrnambool, Moyne, Corangamite and Glenelg were transferred to Geelong Hospital.
This decision has been made in response to the growing demand for inpatient services across Victoria, SWH said.
Only south-west Victorian patients will be admitted.
COVID patients, if admitted, will be treated in a separate ward from other patients said chief executive Craig Fraser.
"South West Healthcare is making changes to anticipate the rise in the number of COVID cases and potential patients we expect to see in the south-west region," Mr Fraser said.
"This will not only ensure people will be cared for closer to home but assist to lighten the load across the system.
"Not everyone who contracts COVID in this latest wave will need hospitalisation, with people who have mild to moderate symptoms self-monitoring their condition at home.
"If however people are experiencing shortness of breath and feel they need assessing, please contact our Monitoring Team on 55634000 or ring ahead to the Emergency Department prior to presenting so that they can prepare for you. In an emergency dial triple zero."
In October 2021 Barwon Health took on SWH's COVID-19 positive patients as part of a state-wide hospital streaming system aimed helping some health services to have no COVID admissions and to return to normal business operations.
However, SWH has always been able to admit COVID-19 patients if necessary, Mr Fraser said.
"Due to the relatively few people needing admission from Victoria's south-west, it was better to ensure people were treated at Barwon Health in a COVID-specific environment.
"This allowed South West Healthcare to continue with our elective surgery lists and to avoid the need to re-establish COVID specific wards and separate our staffing teams meaning all areas could focus on core business with minimal service reductions."
There are currently no COVID patients at Warrnambool Base Hospital however admissions are expected given the increasingly high numbers of people with COVID in the south-west.
Camperdown Hospital will not take Covid-19 patients.
Staff will be redeployed and rostering will be implemented to ensure that staff are able to care safely for patients, Mr Fraser said.
Visitor restrictions have been reintroduced at Warrnambool Base Hospital to one person per patient per day.
Exemptions to these restrictions are available in the case of end-of-life patients, provided room density allows more than two people at a time.
Merindah Lodge aged care in Camperdown will not be allowing visitors until further notice.
Testing continues at Warrnambool's Deakin University until the end of the day Monday, when SWH will review operations.
No rapid antigen tests will be offered to community members at the site, SWH said.
Bookings for the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine rollout are open in Warrnambool, with SWH now offering Pfizer vaccinations for children aged between 5-11 years.
Bookings in Warrnambool are available on January 11, 20, 21, 27 and 28, and will continue every Thursday and Friday by appointment only.
The pediatric vaccine will be offered in Camperdown on January 20 and Fridays by appointment only.
Latest COVID-19 cases in the south-west
Active cases as of January 7 in south-west Victoria are:
- 69 new cases in Warrnambool (147 active cases)
- 35 new cases in Moyne Shire (73 active cases)
- 30 new cases in Corangamite Shire (81 active cases)
- Six new case in Southern Grampians Shire (34 active cases)
- 52 new active cases in Glenelg Shire (81 active cases)
- 13 new active cases in Colac-Otway Shire (30 active cases)
Figures are believed to be underreported due to challenges accessing rapid antigen and PCR COVID-19 tests.
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