September 5 - 11, 2021: Issue 509

 

covid updates: 69 active local cases - store alerts + NSW Government extends Economic support measures + ATAGI update

Covid-19 Testing Clinic at Avalon Bowling Club carpark. 

As of Thursday September 2nd, 2021 there are 69 active cases in the NB LGA
Active Cases in Pittwater: Coasters, Currawong Great Mackerel: 1, Avalon Beach: 2, Newport: 2, Mona Vale: 7, Bayview: 2, Ingleside, Narrabeen-Elanora: 2.
The Cromer-Dee Why area has the highest local total with 15 active cases.
All available at: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/find-the-facts-about-covid-19#map-of-nsw-covid-19-case-locations-cases-and-tests

Woolworths store alerts: September 2nd 2021

Woolworths Mona Vale

Woolworths been notified that team members in our Woolworths Mona Vale store have tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Their last shifts in store were: 

  • 28 August - from 10:00am to 3:00pm
  • 27 August - from 8:00am to 1:15pm
  • 26 August - from 8:00am to 3:30pm
  • 25 August - from 12:28pm to 6:00pm
  • 24 August - from 6:10am to 8:10am
  • 23 August - from 8:00am to 5:00pm
  • 22 August - from 8:10am to 6:00pm
  • 22 August - from 8:10am to 5:00pm
  • 21 August - from 8:00am to 6:00pm

Woolworths Warriewood

Woolworths been notified that a service provider (contractor) in our Woolworths Warriewood store has tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

They were last in store at the following time:

  • 24 August - from 8:32am to 10:10am

The Service Provider has received Department of Health advice and is following isolation requirements.

Woolworths Balgowlah

Woolworths have been notified that a service provider (contractor) in our Woolworths Balgowlah store has tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

They were last in store at the following time:

  • 28 August - from 10:20am to 10:52am

The service provider has received Department of Health advice and is following isolation requirements.

Woolworths Dee Why

Woolworths have been notified that a service provider (contractor) in our Woolworths Dee Why store has tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

They were last in store at the following times: 

  • 27 August - from 9:18am to 9:38pm
  • 24 August - from 10:35am to 10:55am

The service provider has received Department of Health advice and is following isolation requirements.

Woolworths Warringah Mall

Woolworths have been notified that a service provider (contractor) in our Woolworths Warringah Mall store has tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

They were last in store at the following times:

  • 28 August - from 8:26am to 9:50am
  • 27 August - from 7:33am to 8:06am
  • 26 August - from 8:26am to 10:50am

The service provider has received Department of Health advice and is following isolation requirements.

Coles Local stores: Covid Cases - September 2nd 2021 update

Coles Newport, NSW

Coles has been informed that a customer who has tested positive for COVID visited our Coles Newport supermarket in Newport NSW between 5:30pm and 5:45pm on Sunday 29th August 2021.

In accordance with advice from NSW Health, all customers who were at the store during this time are asked to seek a COVID-19 test immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. Additionally, NSW Health advises that if customers receive a negative test taken before 3rd September 2021, they should wear a mask around others and limit their movement until receiving a second negative test result taken on 3rd September 2021 or later.

Coles’ standard cleaning procedures comply with the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Hygiene Practices For Supermarkets and frequent cleaning and sanitisation has occurred in the time since the customer was last on site.  

Coles Local Manly Corso, NSW

Coles has been informed that a customer who has tested positive for COVID visited our Coles Local Manly Corso supermarket in Manly NSW between 11:10am and 12:05pm on Tuesday 24th August, between 11:14am and 12:55pm on Thursday 26th August and between 11:07am and 1:00pm on Saturday 28th August 2021.

In accordance with advice from NSW Health, all customers who were at the store during this time are asked to seek a COVID-19 test immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. Additionally, NSW Health advises that if customers receive a negative test taken before 2nd September 2021, they should wear a mask around others and limit their movement until receiving a second negative test result taken on 2nd September 2021 or later.

Coles’ standard cleaning procedures comply with the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Hygiene Practices For Supermarkets and frequent cleaning and sanitisation has occurred in the time since the customer was last on site.  

Coles Balgowlah, NSW

Coles has been informed that a customer who has tested positive for COVID visited our Coles Balgowlah supermarket in Balgowlah NSW between 7:00am and 8:10am on Thursday 26th August, between 7:00am and 7:20am on Friday 27th August and between 7:00am and 8:10am on Saturday 28th August 2021.

In accordance with advice from NSW Health, all customers who were at the store during this time are asked to seek a COVID-19 test immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. Additionally, NSW Health advises that if customers receive a negative test taken before 2nd September 2021, they should wear a mask around others and limit their movement until receiving a second negative test result taken on 2nd September 2021 or later.

Coles’ standard cleaning procedures comply with the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Hygiene Practices For Supermarkets and frequent cleaning and sanitisation has occurred in the time since the customer was last on site.  

Coles Dee Why, NSW

Coles has been informed that a customer who has tested positive for COVID visited our Coles Dee Why supermarket in Dee Why NSW between 9:41am and 10:41am on Friday 27th August 2021.

In accordance with advice from NSW Health, all customers who were at the store during this time are asked to seek a COVID-19 test immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. Additionally, NSW Health advises that if customers receive a negative test taken before 1st September 2021, they should wear a mask around others and limit their movement until receiving a second negative test result taken on 1st September 2021 or later.

Coles’ standard cleaning procedures comply with the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Hygiene Practices For Supermarkets and frequent cleaning and sanitisation has occurred in the time since the customer was last on site.  

Coles Warringah Mall, NSW

Coles has been informed that a customer who has tested positive for COVID visited our Coles Warringah Mall supermarket in Brookvale NSW between 8:11am and 9:10am on Friday 27th August 2021.

In accordance with advice from NSW Health, all customers who were at the store during this time are asked to seek a COVID-19 test immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. Additionally, NSW Health advises that if customers receive a negative test taken before 1st September 2021, they should wear a mask around others and limit their movement until receiving a second negative test result taken on 1st September 2021 or later.

Coles’ standard cleaning procedures comply with the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Hygiene Practices For Supermarkets and frequent cleaning and sanitisation has occurred in the time since the customer was last on site.  

Coles Dee Why Grand, NSW

Coles has been informed that a customer who has tested positive for COVID visited our Coles Dee Why Grand supermarket in Dee Why NSW between 10:56am and 12:00pm on Friday 27th August 2021.

In accordance with advice from NSW Health, all customers who were at the store during this time are asked to seek a COVID-19 test immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result. Additionally, NSW Health advises that if customers receive a negative test taken before 1st September 2021, they should wear a mask around others and limit their movement until receiving a second negative test result taken on 1st September 2021 or later.

Coles’ standard cleaning procedures comply with the Federal Government’s COVID-19 Hygiene Practices For Supermarkets and frequent cleaning and sanitisation has occurred in the time since the customer was last on site.

Read the latest COVID-19 information.

If you are directed to get tested for COVID 19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.

It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately. When testing clinics are busy, please ensure you stay in line, identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms or are a contact of a case.

Please check the NSW Government website regularly: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19, and follow the relevant health advice if you have attended a venue of concern or travelled on a public transport route at the same time as a confirmed case of COVID-19. This list is being updated regularly as case investigations proceed.

There are more than 450 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week.

To find your nearest clinic visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics

NSW Health Update: Saturday September 4th, 2021

NSW recorded 1,533 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. 

One new case was acquired overseas in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 32,134.

Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the deaths of four people who had COVID-19.

A man in his 60s from western Sydney died at home.

A woman in her 80s from south west Sydney died at Fairfield Hospital.

A man in his 50s from western Sydney died at Westmead Hospital.

A man in his 70s from south west Sydney died at Liverpool Hospital.

NSW Health extends its deepest sympathies to their loved ones.

There have been 123 COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since 16 June 2021, and 179 in total since the start of the pandemic.

There have been 26,517 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported.   

There are currently 1,041 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 173 people in intensive care, 62 of whom require ventilation.

There were 131,174 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 154,654. 

NSW Health administered 49,779 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 10,501 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park and 10,616 at the vaccination centre at Qudos Bank Arena.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 7,352,370 with 2,750,897 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 4,601,473 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11:59pm on Thursday 2 September 2021. 

Of the 1,533 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 512 are from Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 494 are from South Western Sydney LHD, 150 are from Sydney LHD, 122 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 90 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 38 are from Western NSW LHD, 36 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 17 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 15 are from Central Coast LHD, 15 are from Hunter New England LHD, 13 are in correctional settings, nine are from Far West LHD, and 22 cases are yet to be assigned to an LHD.

NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has recently detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at sewage treatment plants across NSW. Fragments were detected in Tamworth, Glen Innes and Port Stephens in Hunter New England LHD, Cooma in Southern NSW LHD, and Kempsey in Mid North Coast LHD.

Everyone in these areas is urged to monitor for the onset of symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

If you are directed to get tested for COVID 19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.

It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately. When testing clinics are busy, please ensure you stay in line, identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms or are a contact of a case.

Please check the NSW Government website regularly, and follow the relevant health advice if you have attended a venue of concern or travelled on a public transport route at the same time as a confirmed case of COVID-19. This list is being updated regularly as case investigations proceed.


COVID-19 economic support measures extended

September 2, 2021

The NSW Government today announced an additional $3.9 billion in funding, including $1.5 billion from the Commonwealth, as part of its COVID-19 economic support package providing ongoing assistance to businesses and individuals affected by current lockdown restrictions across the State.

This additional funding will extend the successful JobSaver program and Micro-business Grant and continue rent relief incentives. 

Additional relief for businesses will also be provided with further reductions in payroll tax as well as allowing eligible businesses to defer their payroll tax payments, due from July 2021 through to December 2021, until the 14 January 2022 with 12-month interest free repayment plans to be available.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said this further $3.9 billion in ongoing support would be vital to help keep businesses in business and people in jobs.

“We are giving businesses, employees and families across the State certainty they can access the financial help needed to get them through,” Mr Perrottet said. 

“We know business and communities are doing it tough and this ongoing support will not only help get them through the depths of the pandemic but will also provide them with a springboard to bounce back once restrictions ease."

“We will continue to stand by businesses and individuals and provide the support needed. We will also be there on the other side as we emerge from lockdown and head towards recovery.”

The NSW Government has now committed $7.7 billion in COVID-19 support measures, with a further $3.4 billion from the Commonwealth, bringing the total assistance for businesses and individuals to more than $11 billion.

The NSW Government’s additional $3.9 billion funding commitment will provide: 

Extension of JobSaver from 28 August

  • Eligible businesses with a turnover between $75,000 to $250 million that continue to experience a minimum 30 per cent decline in turnover due to the Public Health Order will be eligible for payments of up to 40 per cent of their pre-COVID weekly NSW payroll.
  • Eligible businesses in the hospitality, tourism and recreation sectors with a turnover of more than $250 million and up to $1 billion that continue to experience the requisite decline in turnover due to the Public Health Order will be eligible to receive payments of 40 per cent of their pre-COVID weekly NSW payroll, up to $500,000 per week.
  • Eligible Not-for-Profit (NFP) organisations in the social support and animal welfare sectors with a turnover between $75,000 and $250 million that show a minimum 15 per cent decline in turnover will be eligible for payments of up to 40 per cent of their pre-COVID weekly NSW payroll. Eligible NFPs will be able to apply from later in September to access backdated payments.

Extension of the COVID-19 Micro-business Grant from 28 August 

  • Eligible businesses with a turnover of more than $30,000 and less than $75,000 that continue to experience a minimum 30 per cent decline in turnover due to the Public Health Order will be eligible for a fortnightly payment of $1,500.

Extension of payroll tax deferrals and waivers

  • Businesses eligible for a 2021 COVID-19 Business Grant or JobSaver with payrolls $10 million or less will be eligible for a 50 per cent reduction (waiver) in their 2021-22 payroll tax, up from 25 per cent.
  • All businesses will also be able to further defer payroll tax payments due from July 2021 through to December 2021. The payments will now not be due until 14 January 2022, and 12-month interest free repayment plans will become available.

Extension of support for commercial, retail, and residential landlords

  • Eligible commercial and retail landlords that provide rental waivers to COVID-19 impacted tenants and have not claimed land tax relief, will be eligible for a monthly grant of up to $3,000; and 
  • Eligible residential landlords can choose between applying for land tax relief or a further payment of $1,500, taking total assistance to a maximum of $4,500 per tenancy if they agree to reduce the rent for COVID-19 impacted tenants by at least $4,500.

Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the Government will continue to prioritise the fast payment of funds to businesses.

“We’ve put on close to 500 assessors in recent weeks and refined the application process. As a result, the number of applications older than 14 days is less than one per cent,” Mr Dominello said.

“We’re continuing to tailor our financial assistance to meet the needs across NSW and working around the clock to process applications and get money into accounts as quickly as possible. To date, we’ve approved more than 300,000 business grant and seen $3.3 billion out the door.”

A new hardship panel will also assess businesses that do not qualify for COVID-19 grants, on a case-by-case basis. 

Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the extension of these measures would be a major boost for small businesses throughout NSW.

“Businesses are experiencing one of the toughest periods right now and as restrictions continue, we've heard loud and clear that businesses across the state need this ongoing support and more to get them through to the other side of this,” Mr Tudehope said.

“The extension of JobSaver and Microbusiness payments announced today combined with more payroll tax relief will give thousands of businesses the extra assistance they need as we move forward to focus on opening the doors and turning the lights on once restrictions ease."

“We simply cannot and will not turn away from small businesses in NSW - they need our support and the NSW Government is standing by them.”

For more information on the 2021 COVID-19 Support Package visit the 2021 COVID-19 Support Package page.

Support for individuals impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders is also available through Services Australia. For more information visit Services Australia

If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon possible.

There are several options to receive your ‘proof of COVID-19 vaccination’:

  • Download your COVID-19 digital certificate via the Express Plus Medicare mobile app or your Medicare online account through myGov. 
    • You can add your COVID-19 digital certificate to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay.
    • Instructions are available on the Services Australia website.
  • ​​​​If you can’t get proof online, your vaccination provider can print your immunisation history statement for you.
  • Call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm) and ask for your statement to be sent to you. It can take up to 14 days to arrive in the post.
  • If you’re not eligible for Medicare you can call the Australian Immunisation Register and request your certificate be mailed to you or add your COVID-19 certificate to your digital wallet using the Individual Healthcare Identifiers service (IHI service) through myGov.

You must stay home. Only leave your home if you have a reasonable excuse.

Reasonable Excuse To Leave Home

A reasonable excuse is if you need to:

  • obtain food or other goods and services:
    • in your local government area, within 10km of your home, if reasonably practicable but not if to do so means that you would enter a local government area of concern (from the start of Monday 16 August 2021, a 5km rule will apply)
    • for the personal needs of the household or for other household purposes (including pets)
    • for vulnerable people
    • only one person per household may leave the home to obtain food or other goods and services each day (you may take a dependent person with you if that person cannot be left at home on their own). 
  • leave home to go to work if:
    • you cannot reasonably work from home and
    • the business is allowed to be open and
    • you comply with relevant rules for COVID-19 tests for Sydney workers. 
    • leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home
    • exercise and take outdoor recreation within your local government area or up to 10km from your home (from the start of Monday 16 August 2021, a 5km rule will apply)
    • go out for medical or caring reasons, including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.

See the list of other reasonable excuses.

$200 Million Support Package For Not-For-Profits

The NSW Government has announced a $200 million support package for the Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector to help organisations faced with the financial impacts of the current restrictions.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government recognised many NFPs, which provide such vital support for the most vulnerable members of our community, were in need of more support themselves in this lockdown.

“NFPs in the social support and animal welfare sectors are in more demand than ever as we battle this Delta outbreak and this package will support those doing so much of the heavy lifting to help vulnerable communities in this pandemic,” Mr Perrottet said.

The funding initiative comes on top of the more than $5.1 billion, including $1 billion in Commonwealth support, announced by the NSW Government since the end of June.

“We’re continuously monitoring the impacts of this outbreak to see what adjustments or additional measures are needed,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Some NFPs did not meet the 30 per cent turnover threshold required for JobSaver so we’ve reduced that to 15 per cent for social support and animal welfare sectors, to ensure they can continue delivering the same level of service to those most in need.

“We’ve also set up a $50 million Social Sector Support Fund to support vulnerable people and provide these NFPs with another avenue for financial assistance where they are experiencing increased demand for their services.”

The support package targets those NFPs providing social support and animal welfare with Service NSW and the Department of Communities and Justice to process applications from next month.

The Social Sector Support Fund will provide grants and direct payments to eligible NFPs and provide a Workforce Surge Payment to support social sector organisations to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks where staff have been furloughed.

Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the targeted support package includes measures designed to provide direct relief to organisations financially impacted by the pandemic.

“This support package is multilayered in recognition of the diversity of our social services organisations which are working tirelessly to support the most vulnerable people in our community during this challenging time,” Mr Henskens said.

“This investment will deliver targeted financial support to organisations to help ensure the continuity of the important services they provide to those most in need.”

For more information on the 2021 COVID-19 Support Package visit the 2021 COVID-19 Support Package page.

ATAGI update following weekly COVID-19 meeting – 1 September 2021

An update from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) following their weekly meeting on 1 September 2021.

ATAGI met on Wednesday 1 September 2021 to review the latest developments relating to COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccine safety. In addition, ATAGI continues to monitor COVID-19 epidemiology in Australia including current COVID-19 outbreaks involving the Delta variant, including in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria.

ATAGI stresses that vaccination is a key public health intervention to prevent infection, transmission and severe disease due to SARS-CoV-2. ATAGI continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for all adults and specific high-risk adolescents.

ATAGI is encouraged to note that as at 31 August 2021, over 19 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia. ATAGI has also noted emerging data from NSW demonstrating that only a small proportion of patients with severe COVID-19 were reported to be vaccinated, consistent with a high vaccine effectiveness against severe disease.

AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria)

Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)

ATAGI considered an update from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on current confirmed cases of TTS and those under investigation. Read the latest TGA statement on TTS cases, including clinical outcomes.

ATAGI examined estimates of risk of TTS by age group in Australia and note that there have been 125 cases of confirmed or probable TTS:

  • 69 confirmed cases
  • 56 probable cases.

To date around 9.6 million doses of AstraZeneca have been administered.

ATAGI notes that International data continues to demonstrate the risk of TTS following a second dose of AstraZeneca is much lower than the risk following a first dose (estimated internationally to be 1.8 per million second doses).  ATAGI reinforces the importance of completing a 2-dose schedule to ensure maximal protection, with the strongest evidence for 2 doses of the same brand.

Rates of TTS cases are based on first doses of AstraZeneca as of 19 August 2021 (to account for the time to onset of TTS). To that date, approximately 8.6 million doses of AstraZeneca have been administered, made up of around 5.7 million first doses and 2.9 million second doses.

Although estimates of risk based on small numbers of cases are imprecise, the risk of TTS is estimated in Australia at around:

  • 2.4 per 100,000 in those <60 years and
  • 1.8 per 100,000 in those ≥60 years.

ATAGI also noted that the TGA have been reporting a detailed breakdown of Australia’s confirmed and probable TTS cases weekly using the CDC Criteria. ATAGI noted these data suggest that the severity of TTS appears to be higher in younger women. These differences by gender are not seen in older people.

Outcomes have generally been better with early presentation and recognition of the symptoms and appropriate treatment as outlined in the TTS primary care guide. This may contribute to the lower-case fatality ratio observed in Australia compared to those reported internationally. The overall case fatality ratio in Australia (8/125, approximately 6%) is lower than that seen in the United Kingdom (~17%). ATAGI sadly note the TGA have reported 2 further deaths this week.

Immune Thrombocytopenia

ATAGI continues to review and closely monitor reports of rare but potentially serious adverse events following immunisation with AstraZeneca, including Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP). It is important for those vaccinated to be aware of some of the symptoms that may be associated with ITP, such as easy bruising and bleeding from the nose or gums.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

ATAGI continues to review and closely monitor reports of rare but potentially serious adverse events following immunisation with AstraZeneca, including Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). It is important for those vaccinated to be aware of some of the symptoms that may be associated with GBS, such as:

  • muscle weakness
  • unusual sensation (numbness, pins and needles) and
  • unsteadiness while walking.

ATAGI notes this condition can occur in the absence of vaccination and that investigations into whether the reported events are causally linked to vaccination is ongoing.

Risks and benefits

ATAGI reinforces that the benefits of vaccination with AstraZeneca in preventing severe COVID-19 strongly outweigh the risks of adverse effects in all Australians ≥60 years. In the context of a COVID-19 outbreak where the supply of Pfizer (Comirnaty) is constrained, ATAGI reinforces adults younger than 60 years old who do not have immediate access to Pfizer should re-assess the benefits to them and their contacts from being vaccinated with AstraZeneca, versus the rare risk of a serious side effect. In greater Sydney, all individuals aged 18 years and above should strongly consider getting vaccinated with any available vaccine including AstraZeneca.

At this time, there is no update to the ATAGI statement from 17 June 2021 in relation to the use of AstraZeneca, except to note that further clarification has been provided (above) in regards to its use in outbreak settings. 

Pfizer (Comirnaty)

ATAGI notes the TGA’s registration of Pfizer for use in children aged 12- 15 years old. ATAGI has reviewed the evidence and now supports COVID-19 vaccination in all adolescents from 12 years of age. These statements can be found in the Resources section below.

Myocarditis and/or Pericarditis

ATAGI continues to review and closely monitor reports of rare but potentially serious adverse events following immunisation with Pfizer, including myocarditis and/or pericarditis. These conditions can occur in the absence of vaccination and are a recognised complication of COVID-19.

ATAGI notes that the TGA is investigating 293 reports of suspected myocarditis and/or pericarditis following Pfizer. International data demonstrates that the rate of disease is higher in younger individuals, particularly young males, and more frequently occurs following the second dose. Most reported cases have been mild, self-limiting and have recovered quickly, although further follow-up of these cases is ongoing. 

Risks and benefits

ATAGI reaffirms that the benefits of Pfizer outweigh the risks of myocarditis and/or pericarditis for any age group and strongly recommend eligible individuals without contraindications to be offered vaccination.

Resources

ATAGI recommends review of the following key resources:

Use of AstraZeneca and/or TTS

  • The ATAGI/THANZ joint statement which provides information about TTS and reaffirms ATAGI’s previous advice regarding the safe use of AstraZeneca.
  • The TTS primary care guide which provides advice for providers on the consideration and management of suspected TTS cases, noting the importance of early presentation and recognition of TTS.
  • The risk-benefit document which provides advice to help consumers make informed decisions about the risks and benefits of AstraZeneca in different age cohorts and scenarios; and
  • additional guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in outbreak settings
  • response to NSW COVID-19 outbreak and
  • additional strategies to combat the risk posed by the Delta variant of concern.

Use of Pfizer and/or Myocarditis and/or Pericarditis