HomeNewsNews & EventsVic COVID-19 update: Mandatory Vaccinations clarified for the sector

Vic COVID-19 update: Mandatory Vaccinations clarified for the sector

What you need to know

  • DFFH provides updated guidance for providers regarding mandatory third dose vaccinations 
  • The Department of Health has defined who is a disability worker and what is a disability service.
  • Registered NDIS providers must report the vaccination status of their workers to the NDIS
  • ATAGI has approved Novavax as a third dose for people over the age of 18

Mandatory vaccinations clarified

The Department of Faimilies, Fairness and Housing has provided updated information regarding the mandatory third dose vaccination for the disability sector.

The clarifications provide guidance for providers.

Workers and supervisors in the disability sector must be fully vaccinated or have made a booking to receive a third dose by 12 March to work on-site. See the Pandemic COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Specified Workers) Order (5). 

Which disability workers must get the third dose?

The Victorian Department of Health has defined who is a disability worker and what is a disability service.

disability worker: 

  • directly provides a disability service to a person with a disability or 
  • supervises or manages another person who directly provides a disability service to a person with a disability.
If a worker meets the disability worker definition and also meets the criteria of other specified workers such as a care worker or social and community service worker, the disability worker definition takes precedence for the purpose of booster dose vaccination deadline.

What is a disability service?

The Department of Health has defined what is a ‘disability service’ to provide clarification on who is a disability worker for the purpose of the mandatory vaccination. 

A disability service is defined as a service that involves more than incidental contact with a person with a disability. It is a service provided to the person with a disability to care for, treat or support them in any of the following activities:

  • communication (such as speech therapy)
  • social or economic participation (such as assistance with shopping or budgeting)
  • social interaction (such as participating in structured social skills groups or activities)
  • learning (such as tutoring and training)
  • mobility (such as training and instructions about how to use mobility equipment 
  • self-care (such as personal hygiene)
  • self-management (such as cooking and cleaning)
  • a prescribed service. 
Providers should note that they are responsible for determining whether their workers deliver disability services, as well as sighting and recording the workers’ vaccination status.

Workers who were unable to receive their mandated third dose by a nominated deadline because they were ineligible, have an additional three months and two weeks to get their third dose.

Reporting obligations to the NDIS Commission

Registered NDIS providers are now required to report to the NDIS Commission on the vaccination status of their workers, in accordance with the Pandemic COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Specified Workers) Order (5)

The next deadline for reporting to the Commission is 11 March 2022, with information known to  the provider on 25 February.

The information that must be provided is:

  1. The number of workers required to be fully vaccinated to deliver NDIS supports or services, in accordance with the Pandemic Order. 
  2. The number of those workers whose proof of exemption has been sighted. 
  3. The number of mandated workers who are only partially vaccinated. 
  4. The number of partially vaccinated workers whose booking(s) for an additional dose(s) of a COVID-19 vaccination has been sighted. 
  5. The number of fully vaccinated workers whose proof of their three doses has been sighted. 
Further information to assist providers in submitting the required information about workforce vaccination is available on the NDIS website

Novavax approved for use as a third dose

ATAGI has approved the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for use as a third dose for people over the age of 18, where no other vaccine is suitable.

Novavax is available through selected state and pop-up vaccination centres, GPs and pharmacies.  

The Novavax vaccine will also be available for in-home appointments for anyone over the age of 18 who needs to receive their first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at home. Visit COVID-19 vaccination at homefor more information about this service.

Visit Book your vaccine appointment for more information about booking options.

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Article sourced from National Disability Services