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COVID-19: Information and resources

The NZCCP wishes you and your loved ones all the best for the challenges of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, the periods of self-isolation, and the disruption to “psychological business as usual.” We are receptive to doing what we can to support members through this difficult time, so please be in touch.

UPDATE TO MANDATORY VACCINATION ORDERS

Changes to the Mandatory Vaccination Order came into force at 11.59pm Sunday 23 January 2022.

These changes require health practitioners to be:

Fully vaccinated AND have received the booster OR
Have a valid exemption

Practitioners must have had their booster by 15 February 2022 or by six months from the end of their primary vaccination course. If the mandated date of your booster dose falls before the date your booster shot is due, you are not required to get your booster until you reach the six-month threshold, however you are eligible
from three months after the completion of your primary vaccine course.

Information about these changes is available on the Ministry website.

All responsible authorities are required to refer information it receives about any individual practitioners who do not comply with the mandatory vaccination orders directly to the Ministry.

All people covered by the vaccination order also need to wear a medical grade mask. What is meant by a medical grade mask? – MoH have advised that you need a Type IIR/level 2 or above surgical mask to meet this requirement. What if a client refuses to wear a mask? – You will need to conduct your own personal health and safety risk assessment.  You may offer the person telehealth or advise that they can be referred to another provider.  You must however not discriminate based on their vaccination status.  It is your right to ask a client to wear a mask.  If a client advises they have a mask exemption apply the personal risk assessment as above.

Practitioners in private practice are responsible for sourcing suitable PPE themselves.

We are still seeking clarification from the Ministry as to whether there are any exceptions to the wearing of masks by practitioners and will update on the website when we have this.

Further resources

Guidance for healthcare workers who are COVID-19 cases or contacts during an Omicron outbreak
Guidance for critical health services during an Omicron outbreak

Please, if you have any questions about the application of the order or any other matter regarding the COVID-19 vaccine mandate contact the Ministry directly at: healthorders@health.govt.nz


Guidance for the COVID Protection Framework (CPF)

COVID-19 Public Health Response (Protection Framework) Order - what does this mean for Allied Health services

Additional guidance for allied health services COVID19 Protection Framework FINAL.pdf  detailing the impact of the COVID protection framework on Allied Health services.

Allied Health CPF Flow Chart FINAL.pdf  to help ascertain if your health service can lawfully require vaccination certificates as an entry requirement to your premises

NZPB/NZCCP/NZPsS Joint Statement: Ethical Concerns regarding the Vaccine Mandates

MPS Guidance: COVID-19 & Managing unvaccinated patients

COVID Vaccinations:

Countering Vaccine Misinformation: A Practical Guide for Healthcare Providers

Here are some resources for supporting people to overcome barriers to vaccination, and to help with needle phobia or anxiety about having a vaccination.

Suggestions for adults and older adolescents

With severe needle phobia the aim is to get the person through the two COVID vaccinations, not to totally overcome the needle phobia as that will take more work and more time. Those with severe needle phobias should still be referred as long-term psychological therapy will be helpful beyond COVID vaccinations. Exposure therapy and CBT for needle phobia takes time – often months, so the one-off benzodiazepine option gives people an immediate path.

Discuss and make a plan with GP, PRN benzodiazepine such as Lorazepam is an option to discuss on a case-by-case basis. The GP and nurse should know in advance and have a plan in place:

  • Identify a support person, essential if benzodiazepines are to be used as the client will not be able to drive)
  • Brief their support person on comfort/reassurance strategies – hold hand, coach breathing etc
  • Minimise waiting time - have all preparatory work (screening questions, checking personal details) done by phone before arriving at the clinic; no waiting in the waiting room – phone into reception and then go straight through to procedure room

For those only moderately anxious then addressing the fear of pain is relevant.  It is still good to book a special vaccination time with GP practice nurse who knows ahead of time the client is anxious. Once again, less time in waiting room.  All prep before the person is in the room so that they can be ‘in and out” as quickly as possible. 

Think 5 Ps.

  • Preparation (see above)
  • Procedural – a quick vaccination is best – not a slow administration.   
  • Physical - Sitting upright is helpful unless a person is concerned about fainting, then lying down is better and reassurance that fainting can be managed and not to be embarrassed about it.  Tensing leg muscles and lying down can help reduce fainting.  If someone is a known fainter (has a vasovagal reaction) then relaxation is unhelpful and will make them worse. Instead use applied muscle tension (https://www.anxietycanada.com/sites/default/files/AppliedTension.pdf & NHS guidelines for fainting treatment using applied tension)
  • or children we talk about comfort positions, sitting on a caregiver’s lap. Face away from the needle preparation and vaccine drawing process so that it happens behind the person. Look away across other shoulder and use cognitive and visual distraction before and during injection. 
  • Pharmacological – numbing cream  (buy at pharmacy but about $17) or Buzzy (can be ordered online for about $50, some clinics have them, you can ask – they are not just for children), cold spray not better than placebo but some people find it reassuring.
  • Psychological  - primarily distraction, active is best.  Easiest is watching a video on their phone, or talking to the nurse or support person about things that aren’t about the procedure (see Supporting someone who is anxious)

Suggestions for children

The following is based on the Minnesota children’s hospital comfort promise, and the video features advice from a very young ‘psychologist in the making’. 

https://smex12-5-en-ctp.trendmicro.com:443/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mprnews.org%2fstory%2f2019%2f10%2f14%2fshots%2danxiety%2d5%2dtips%2douchless%2dinjections&umid=02a4038c-2178-4332-b6d2-cf4dd8e1d2c8&auth=f5919179c8736197a129bb174c8f63e880123064-42b1e545004ac1e9b89d769d7a731cac73e0b0a2

Resources for disabled and autistic people 

Other resources

The NZ Psychologists Board has developed an information sheet regarding requests for vaccination exemptions.

Ministry of Health position statement on the management of unvaccinated individuals in healthcare settings.

Practising during the pandemic

Here are some links and resources that may be helpful:

The Board's document Best Practice Guideline – The Practice of Telepsychology  is very useful for assisting us to practise online safely and effectively

More information can be found at the NZ Psychologists Board’s COVID 19 webpage (https://psychologistsboard.org.nz/for-practitioners/covid-19/)

Questions about Practising Under COVID-19 Conditions? The NZCCP, the Psychologists Board, and the NZ Psychological Society have worked together to give consistent responses to any questions psychologists have about providing psychology and neuropsychology services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The answers to these questions can be viewed at NZPB/NZCCP/NZPsS: COVID19 FAQ with RESPONSES

If you have questions about practising psychology during the COVID-19 Lockdown and subsequent levels, please send them to covid19@nzpb.org.nz  and a group from the Board, the College, and the Society will attempt to answer them.

MPS has made allowances for the situation and “reassure that should you need to do a remote consultation with a patient whom you would ordinarily see face-to-face, your membership with Medical Protection will enable you to request assistance for matters that could arise from such consultations during this time.” 

ACC has also approved Telehealth for additional service types for the duration of the COVID-19 response in the treatment of ACC’s clients accessing Integrated Services for Sensitive Claims, Psychological Services, and Clinical Psychiatric Services.  Individual waivers to use Telehealth for these services will not be required for the duration of the COVID-19 response. For further information regarding ACC requirements please refer to the website. 

Telepsychology "Pearls of Wisdom": For many of us, assessment and therapy by telepsychology is a new skill to learn. This document contains tips that have been gleaned from personal experience, relevant literature, and discussion with practitioners about how to make telepsychology as safe, effective, and sustainable as possible.

Several other NZ based resources are available that may assist people to learn more about online therapy and other aspects of practising during the pandemic:

There is also a lot of discussion and suggestions on the NZCCP Private Practitioners Facebook group site and at TeletherapyNZ

Increase in scamming activity: Right now there is significant scamming activity going on and we urge people to be extra vigilant as fraudsters seek to exploit the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Click here for some information and advice about how to deal with these.

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