Health updates to keep your mob safe.

Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on COVID-19 vaccines, and other health updates.

Welcome to the latest update for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households, communities and organisations. In this edition, find out about how you can keep your spirit strong, CAHMA’s Connection, read about long COVID and the Easy Vaccine Access (EVA) and more!

COVID-19 oral treatments

COVID-19 oral treatments are now available to people who are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.

These COVID-19 treatments can be taken at home and can help reduce your symptoms, to ensure you don’t need to go to hospital.

Watch a video here with Dr Lucas de Toca as he talks about COVID-19 oral treatments, including who is eligible, when to take them, and how to access them in rural or remote areas.

For more information visit the Department of Health and Aged care.

Long COVID

COVID-19 can cause some people to experience long term-health problems after getting infected. This is called long COVID. It causes people to feel unwell for many weeks, or months, even after they no longer have the virus.

There is evidence that COVID-19 vaccines help reduce the chance of long COVID. Keeping up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines can help protect you from long COVID.

For more information, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Easy Vaccine Access (EVA)

The Easy Vaccine Access (EVA) service helps you to book a COVID-19 vaccination. Simply message the EVA call back service on 0481 611 382 between 7 am to 10 pm (AEST), 7 days a week.

All you need to do is send a text with ‘Hey EVA’ to 0481 611 382.

For more information, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Keep your spirit strong

During COVID-19 many people face challenges that have impacted their mental health. The ‘Keep Your Spirit Strong’ project aims to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders take important steps to ensure they are prioritising their social and emotional wellbeing.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has developed a range of resources to highlight the importance of mental health and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing.

For more information, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

The Connection

The Connection is the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA’s) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service run by and for the Indigenous community.

The Connection is run by an Indigenous team who understand the cultural needs of the community. The Connection staff work across all CAHMA’s programs and services providing additional cultural support and awareness to treatment paths.

For more information visit the Department of Health and Aged care.

Updated COVID-19 vaccine resources available

Some information resources have been updated to include new information about ATAGI recommendations about the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for some children aged 6 months to 4 years. There is also updated information about vaccine doses and COVID safe behaviours:

Common questions – a fact sheet containing common questions and answers about the COVID-19 vaccines.

Living with COVID-19, Rapid antigen tests, Third and fourth doses, General COVID-19 vaccine information, Children, youth and COVID-19 vaccines, Reasons to get vaccinated – suites of social tiles with updated information and new tiles included.

Visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website for all of our communications resources, including resources for vaccine providers working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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