The COVID-19 vaccine is set to be rolled out to Residential Aged Care Homes in late February 2021. The Department of Health has released new information for aged care providers and workers. Here are the key points:
The Australian Government has a National Rollout Strategy for vaccinating Australians against COVID-19. The strategy involves vaccinating different groups one after the other in an order of priority.
The top priority is Phase 1a. In this Phase up to 1.4 million doses of the vaccine will be delivered to:
Once this Phase is complete the vaccine will be given to other groups such as elderly adults who are not in residential aged care, other health care workers, high-risk workers (e.g. police), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and finally the rest of Australian adults and some children.
According to the Department of Health:
“Aged care workers are a priority group because they are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their frequent contact with people. They are also more likely to transmit the virus to vulnerable people through their work in hospitals and aged care facilities. It is for everyone’s benefit that this group is prioritised for vaccination so they can continue providing essential care.”
According to the Department of Health, “getting vaccinated is voluntary, but strongly encouraged”.
The Department of Health advises that the relevant government agencies and peak bodies will organise distribution of the vaccine, and that “Information about distribution, registration and consent will be available soon.”
The Department also advises that the vaccine will be given in the home by “a trained and skilled vaccinator.” Information will be provided to workers and residents ahead of the vaccinator’s arrival.
Aged Care Homes should have a plan to manage COVID-19 vaccinations. This plan should include processes and procedures for:
Aged Care Homes should consider the ways that vaccination will change some of the processes set out in their COVID-19 outbreak management plan and update the plan accordingly – e.g. different monitoring processes may apply to people who are vaccinated vs people who aren’t.
To support Aged Care Providers the Department of Health have made available a COVID-19 vaccine aged care stakeholder kit. This stakeholder kit contains information about the COVID-19 vaccine national rollout program for aged care residents, workers and their families.
Finally, keep up to date by regularly visiting the Department of Health website and the “Key COVID-19 Regulatory Updates” tracking page. Share trusted information with workers and residents and your wider community.