•
adequate number of hand hygiene stations in strategic areas to support appropriate hand hygiene for the public and staff (i.e., at the entrance and exit areas, in the waiting areas, and in each vaccination station);
•
laminated signage/posters to include reminders about: •
reporting COVID-19 signs and symptoms;
•
hand and respiratory hygiene;
•
physical distancing (e.g. floor markings, seating arrangements, tapes, ropes, and cones);
•
adequate space for vaccine storage and preparation (e.g. clean and hygienic environment, adequate ventilation and equipment to adhere to specific COVID-19 vaccine cold chain requirements);
•
vaccination stations a least 1 metre apart (ideally with installation of physical barriers between vaccination stations);
•
adequate ‘cleanability’ of screening areas, vaccination stations, waiting areas (e.g. removal of items that cannot be readily decontaminated and minimizing clutter to aid effective cleaning);
•
appropriate waste management system including safe disposal of waste (such as vials and masks) and sharps at each vaccination station (see also ‘Disposal of Consumables, Vaccine and Vaccine Packaging’ section below).
5.5.2.3
IPC supplies
Ensure that there is a continuous and sufficient supply of the following: •
Personal protective equipment (PPE) including eye protection, long-sleeve fluid resistant gowns and gloves, in case it is required for vaccination team’s protection when dealing with a vaccine adverse event, to prevent exposure to non-intact skin to blood and body fluids or if a suspected case of COVID19 is identified during the screening process.
•
Other supplies include; alcohol-based hand sanitisers, thermo-scans for temperature screening, tissues; waste bins and bin liners, sharp disposal bins, cleaning and disinfection products, visual reminders and signage and physical barriers to aid spatial separation.
Identify a suitable area for storage of supplies.
5.5.3 Operational phase Use a daily checklist to monitor and ensure that the IPC and other safety measures are adhered to. Consider a daily ‘huddle’ to enhance teamwork and to highlight any IPC issues. Screen all staff for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 at the start of each shift. Screen all people arriving for vaccination for COVID signs and symptoms, especially those people who meet the New Zealand Government ‘higher index of suspicion’ (HIS) criteria. Ensure that the scheduling of vaccination appointments avoids over-crowding and allows for physical distancing and other IPC measures. Also, limit the number of accompanying people to only those who need assistance, whether physical or psychosocial. Ensure the appropriate processes are in place to prevent underage vaccinations – this is a never event. Ensure the appropriate processes are in place to prevent second dose vaccinations earlier than 21 days – this is a never event. * *Note: In the rare occurrence where a medical specialist has made the decision to administer the vaccine as off label/ unapproved use this decision and informed consent must be documented.
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