The Emergency Management (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination 2) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination No 3) (COVID-19) Direction 2021. This Direction came into effect at 3.57pm on 8 November 2021.
Healthcare workers who give person to person allied and scientific professional care in chiropractic therapy and osteopathy require a COVID-19 vaccination.
By 6 December 2021 the above mentioned healthcare workers must have:
- Received at least one dose of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccination,
- Received, or have evidence of a booking to receive, a second dose of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine within the interval after the first dose recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) for that COVID-19 vaccine
- Provided the operator of the health care setting with proof of their vaccination status upon request.
A healthcare worker is not required to have evidence of a COVID-19 vaccination if:
- They have a medical certificate or a letter from a legally qualified medical practitioner certifying that the person:
- Has a medical exemption from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine on either a permanent or temporary basis in accordance with guidelines published by ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation)Has a medical exemption on either a permanent or temporary basis from receiving the preferred vaccine as recommended by ATAGI for the person’s age.
- Or, the person is responding to a non-medical emergency or urgent maintenance task.
- Has an appointment to be assessed by a medical specialist or has started an assessment to determine if they have a medical exemption
- Is currently taking part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial and the receipt of another available vaccine would impact the validity of the trial.
- The certificate or letter specifies the nature of the exemption and the basis on which it applies;
- The Chief Public Health Officer or her delegate has endorsed the exemption, and
- The person provides the operator of the healthcare setting with a copy of the endorsement.
Note: Workers at the above facilities also include any person who attends a healthcare setting in the course of their work, or duties, including if their attendance is incidental, such as delivery drivers or suppliers.
This does not apply to any patients, or if a healthcare worker conducts allied health work in another setting predominantly used for another purpose (home, school, sports centre) then only the individual allied and scientific professional is required to be vaccinated.
IN-HOME AND COMMUNITY AGED CARE AND DISABILITY SUPPORT WORKERS VACCINATION DIRECTION
The Emergency Management (In-home and Community Aged Care and Disability Support Workers Vaccination) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 has been created. This Direction came into effect at 4.05pm on 8 November 2021.
By 30 November 2021 people working in the following areas will be required to have received at least one dose of a TGA approved or recognised vaccine:
- Disability support worker providing intensive disability support services to a person with a disability for or on behalf of a responsible provider in person, including
- Assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement
- Group and centre based activities
- Specialised supported employment
- Assistance with daily personal activities
- Community nursing care
- Therapeutic supports
- In-home and community aged care workers providing services to another person in person for or on behalf of a responsible provider, including:
- Home Care Packages
- Commonwealth Home Support Program
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program home care services
- Short term Restorative Care
- Transition Care Program
- Multi Purposes Services.
By 30 November 2021 these workers must have:
- Received at least one dose of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccination,
- Received, or has evidence of a booking to receive, a second dose of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine within the interval after the first dose recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) for that COVID-19 vaccine – previously stated one month after initial vaccination.
- Provided the operator of the health care setting with proof of their vaccination status upon request.
An In-home and Community Aged Care and Disability Support Workers worker is not required to have evidence of a COVID-19 vaccination if:
- They have a medical certificate or a letter from a legally qualified medical practitioner certifying that the person:
- Has a medical exemption from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine on either a permanent or temporary basis in accordance with guidelines published by ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation).
- Has a medical exemption on either a permanent or temporary basis from receiving the preferred vaccine as recommended by ATAGI for the person’s age.
- Has an appointment to be assessed by a medical specialist or has started an assessment to determine if they have a medical exemption
- Is currently taking part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial and the receipt of another available vaccine would impact the validity of the trial.
- The certificate or letter specifies the nature of the exemption and the basis on which it applies;
- The Chief Public Health Officer or her delegate has endorsed the exemption, and
- The person provides the operator of the healthcare setting with a copy of the endorsement.
RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE FACILITIES DIRECTION
The Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 41) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 42) (COVID-19) Direction 2021. This Direction came into effect at 4.01pm on 8 November 2021.
From 6 December 2021 a person must not enter a Residential Aged Care Facility unless they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. They must have received all doses of an approved or recognised vaccine.
This does not apply to people who have a medical exemption from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine either on a permanent or temporary basis in according to the guidelines published by ATAGI, or to a child under the age of 12 years and 2 months.
COVID-19 vaccinations have been in place for any person working at a Residential Aged Care Facility since 17 September 2021. However, by 5 December 2021 a person can only be exempt from having a COVID-19 vaccination if:
- They have a medical certificate or a letter from a legally qualified medical practitioner certifying that the person:
- Has a medical exemption from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine on either a permanent or temporary basis in accordance with guidelines published by ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation).
- Has a medical exemption on either a permanent or temporary basis from receiving the preferred vaccine as recommended by ATAGI for the person’s age.
- Has an appointment to be assessed by a medical specialist or has started an assessment to determine if they have a medical exemption
- Is currently taking part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial and the receipt of another available vaccine would impact the validity of the trial.
- The certificate or letter specifies the nature of the exemption and the basis on which it applies;
- The Chief Public Health Officer or her delegate has endorsed the exemption, and
- The person provides the operator of the healthcare setting with a copy of the endorsement.
- Or, the person is employed or engaged in the provision of emergency services in the event of an emergency.
For all existing Directions, tables and frequently asked questions and other information can be found here: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations
If you require further information you can call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787 between the hours of 9am to 5pm 7 days per week or go to the SA Health website at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au or www.sa.gov.au/covid-19
