This COVID-19 alert updates the alert provided on 8 March 2022.
Direction change under Section 16 – No.3 (Additional vaccination requirements for workers in certain settings)
On 29 March 2022, the Director of Public Health has extended the date for compliance with the booster vaccination requirements outlined in the Public Health Direction- Additional vaccination requirements for workers in certain settings – No 3 for workers in Aged Care facilities and disability support workers to 23 April 2022.
This replaces the earlier commencement date of 1 April 2022.
From 23 April 2022 the following workers must receive a booster under the Public Health Direction:
- Residential aged care workers including students
- In-home and community aged care workers
- Disability support workers: those who provide high intensity supports to an NDIS participant.
Employee Obligations:
- You must show evidence of having received your booster to your relevant supervisor
- For residential aged care workers: from 23 April 2022, you must not enter the premises of a residential aged care facility if you have not had your booster within 4 weeks of it being due.
- For in-home and community aged care workers, and disability support workers: from 23 April 2022, you must not provide services if you have not had your booster within 4 weeks of it being due.
Exemptions apply to persons who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical contraindication, and have a medical certificate to support this.
Employer obligations:
- Notify employees, volunteers, and students undertaking placements in your workplace, of the requirement.
- Maintain evidence of vaccination for each employee.
- For residential aged care facilities: take all reasonable steps to ensure an employee does not enter, or remain the premises if they do not comply with requirement/s of the Direction.
- For in-home and community aged care and disability care: take all reasonable steps to ensure an employee does not provide services if they do not comply with the requirements of the Direction.
ATAGI announces winter COVID-19 booster dose for select groups
On 25 March 2022, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommended the administration of an additional winter booster dose for selected population groups who are at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
The additional dose will increase vaccine protection before winter for those within select groups and who have received their primary vaccination and first booster dose.
These groups are:
- Adults aged 65 years and older
- Residents of aged care or disability care facilities
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and older.
The additional winter booster dose can be given from 4 months or longer after the person has received their first booster dose, or from 4 months after a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, if infection occurred since the person’s first COVID-19 booster dose.
ATAGI recommends that the rollout of the additional booster dose for these groups starts from April 2022, coinciding with the rollout of the 2022 influenza vaccination program.
Influenza vaccine can be co-administered with the additional booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine. However, if a person is not yet due for their additional booster dose, influenza vaccine could be given ahead of the additional booster dose.
Additional information will be provided in the coming week/s outlining delivery of this program to residents.
For more information visit ATAGI statement on recommendations on a winter booster dose of covid-19-vaccine
Read the ATAGI statement at ATAGI statement on the use of a 3rd primary dose of covid-19 vaccine in individuals-who-are-severely-immunocompromised
Testing
- Keep up to date on our testing clinic locations and opening hours
- Register a positive Rapid Antigen Test result
- Request a Rapid Antigen Test kit
Vaccination Centres
- The latest information about vaccination centres
- To get a booster at a state-run clinic, eligible people should book an appointment or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
- Details on third primary doses and boosters for the general population
- As of 1 February 2022, the recommended interval between the primary course and the first booster dose remains three months.
What to do:
- Ensure your COVID-19 Safety Plan is up to date and all staff are aware of the actions they need to take. For more information go to COVID-19 case and outbreak management
- Ensure your clinic is set up to reduce risk of transmission events occurring through the use of physical distancing, personal protective equipment, hand hygiene and other measures.
- Continue to screen patients entering your practice for symptoms of COVID-19 or close contact with a case of COVID-19.
- Continue to support all staff and patients to get tested for COVID-19 if they have any cold or flu-like symptoms or loss of smell or taste with a PCR or RAT.
- Make sure that all patients with a positive RAT result are advised to isolate, to notify their close contacts and to register their result on the coronavirus website
- Keep up to date on testing options, testing clinic locations and opening hours
- Encourage all eligible patients to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Booster shots are now available three months after completing the primary course. Bookings are required and can be made via Tasmanian Coronavirus website - booking
If you have any questions about this alert, please contact the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at [email protected] or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Dr Julie Graham
Deputy Director of Public Health
Public Health Emergency Operations Centre