How aged care workers can access a priority booster dose

To continue to protect senior Australians living in aged care facilities and the community, all aged care workers are strongly encouraged to get a booster dose as soon as they are eligible – three months after their second dose.

People who receive a booster dose reduce the likelihood of severe illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19, and are less likely to transmit COVID-19 to others.

It is a mandatory condition of employment for residential aged care workers to receive a COVID-19 booster dose in Victoria, and for all aged care workers in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.

New South Wales has also indicated its intent to mandate boosters for aged care workers.

All aged care workers can request a priority booster appointment at:

• State and territory vaccination clinics
• Visiting GPs or pharmacists
• Local health service in-reach vaccination (where available)
• Community pharmacies
• General practices.

If you are a residential aged care worker and your facility has not yet had its on-site booster clinic, workers who are eligible can receive a booster dose at these clinics.

Commonwealth vaccination hubs dedicated to aged care and disability workers are being established.  Priority is being given to those jurisdictions which have now mandated booster doses as a condition of employment for aged care workers.

The first dedicated workers hubs are located in Victoria in Ballarat, Doncaster, Hawthorn and Williamstown. These hubs are only for aged care (residential, in-home and community aged care), disability; and for people with a disability.

Aged care workers in the Northern Territory
Residential, in-home and community aged care workers in the Northern Territory are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose as announced on 29 January 2022 – Mandatory vaccinations | Coronavirus (COVID-19) (nt.gov.au).

• All aged care workers are required to receive a booster dose by 11 March 2022, as is required for all workers in high risk settings.

Aged care workers in South Australia
Residential aged care workers in South Australia are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose under the Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 45) (COVID-19) Direction 2022.

• Under the order residential aged care workers must receive a booster dose of an approved vaccine within 4 weeks of becoming eligible in accordance with guidelines set by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

In-home and community aged care workers in South Australia are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose under the Emergency Management (In-home and Community Aged Care and Disability Support Workers Vaccination No 3) (COVID-19) Direction 2022.

• Under the direction in-home and community aged care workers must receive a booster dose of an approved vaccine within 4 weeks of becoming eligible in accordance with guidelines set by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

Aged care workers in Victoria
Residential aged care workers in Victoria are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose under the Pandemic COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Specified Facilities) Order 2022.

• Under the order, which comes into effect today, residential aged care workers who received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine before 12 September 2021 must receive a booster dose by 12 February 2022.
• For residential aged care workers who received two doses after 12 September 2021, the booster deadline is 1 March 2022.

Aged care workers in Western Australia
Residential, in-home and community aged care workers in Western Australia are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose under the ‘Booster Vaccination (restrictions on access) Direction’.

• The direction – for workers in industries covered by previous vaccine mandates – requires aged care workers to receive a booster dose by 5 February 2022 to further limit the spread of the Omicron strain.
• The Direction sets out arrangements for workers that are not eligible for their booster by 5 February.

Residential, in-home and community aged care providers required to report on booster vaccinations

It is a mandatory requirement for all residential, in-home and community aged care providers to report each Tuesday via My Aged Care provider portal on workers’ booster doses.

In addition, residential aged care providers must report on residents’ booster and third dose vaccination rates. Third doses are for people who are severely immunocompromised.

All providers should now be reporting each Tuesday on their resident booster vaccination rates.

Failure to report weekly on booster vaccination rates may be referred to the Australian Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission for possible regulatory action.

Department of Health