Sydney aged care advice since 1998. Servicing Sutherland Shire, North Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, South Coast, NSW North Coast, Byron Bay, Port Macquarie, Forster.

COVID-19 vaccinations made mandatory for aged care workers

7 Jul 2021
Aged Care Workers required to be vaccinated by Mid-September

In what seems to be a blindingly obvious requirement being implemented 6 months too late, it will be mandatory for all aged care workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine, following a decision at a snap National Cabinet meeting last night. From mid-September all residential aged care staff will need to have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
The mandate follows a recommendation from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and was accepted by Cabinet. This is the third time the prospect of mandatory vaccinations for aged care workers has been discussed.The mandates will be enforced through a partnership between the Commonwealth and the States and will be administered similar to how the Influenza vaccines are provided to all aged care workers, which are also mandatory for the workforce.Along with the mandatory vaccinations, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the implementation of an $11 million grant program to encourage aged care facilities to provide staff with leave to get vaccinated or to cover for any adverse side effects to the vaccine.
To make sure there are no unintended consequences or negative impacts on the workforce, there will be risk and benefit assessments conducted and reported back to Cabinet by early August. PM Morrison says that the aim is to have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in all residential aged care workers by mid-September 2021.