Updated Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination, South Australia

The Emergency Management (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination No 2) (COVID-19) Direction 2021. This Direction came into effect at 4:50pm on Wednesday, 19 October 2021.

By Monday, 8 November 2021 healthcare workers in the following categories will now be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19:

  • Primary community healthcare facilities including:
    • General practice clinics;
    • Dental clinics;
    • Private nurse offices;
  • Pharmacies
  • Private pathology centres
  • Private radiology centres (including breast screening centre);
  • Defence health settings (including Garrison health centres, deployed and exercise health support and clinical health training);
  • Facilities for the collection, manufacture and distribution of blood and biological products;
  • Aboriginal community controlled health services
  • Department for Health and Wellbeing, the Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health and Wellbeing SA
  • Specialist outpatient facilities (consulting suites of private medical specialists (including reproductive services) and any setting where the following services are provided, including:
    • art or music therapy;
    • audiology;
    • dental therapy;
    • epidemiology;
    • exercise physiology;
    • genetic counselling;
    • nuclear medicine technology;
    • nutrition and dietetics;
    • occupational therapy;
    • optometry;
    • orthoptics;
    • orthotics and prosthetics;
    • perfusion;
    • physiotherapy;
    • podiatry;
    • psychology;
    • radiation therapy;
    • radiography;
    • social
      work
      provided at a public or private hospital or community healthcare facility;
    • sonography;
    • speech pathology;

The above mentioned healthcare workers must have:

  • Received at least one dose of a TGA approved 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.

Note: This includes 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.

Note: Workers in public or private hospitals requiring a COVID-19 vaccination by 1 November 2021.

A healthcare worker is not required to have evidence of a COVID-19 vaccination if:

  • They have a medical certificate:
    • from a legally qualified medical practitioner in accordance with guidelines published by ATAGI; and
    • The certificate specifies the nature of the exemption and the basis on which it applies; and
    • The Chief Public Health Officer or her delegate has endorsed the exemption; and
    • They produce the certificate on request by an authorised officer.
  • Or, the person is responding to a non-medical emergency or urgent maintenance task.

For more information on vaccination exemptions go to https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities/travel-restrictions/essential-travellers

The information above only highlights the key changes made to the Directions and does not reflect all requirements. Members of the public are encouraged to see the full Directions for further information.

All existing directions, 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

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