COVID-19 vaccination pathways for residential aged care facilities workforce

Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) is working with the Commonwealth Government Department of Health (Dept.) to assist residential aged care facilities (RACFs) access COVID-19 vaccination for staff who have not yet received their vaccinations.

It is a Commonwealth Government requirement that all residential aged care workers must have received at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine by 17 September 2021.

All residential aged care workers, irrespective of their age or Medicare eligibility status, are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Please note- staff without Medicare cards should arrange appointments through dedicated Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics who can support staff without Medicare cards to receive their vaccinations.

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Workers required to be vaccinated

COVID-19 vaccination will be mandatory for full time, part-time and casual residential aged care workers, volunteers engaged by the facility, and students on placement. This includes anyone employed or engaged by a residential aged care facility who works on-site in a facility. Medical practitioners, such as general practitioners and consulting specialists, are also covered by this scope.  Other workers not employed directly by a facility, and who only provide in-reach services, are not required to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

A number of COVID-19 vaccination pathways for your staff are detailed below. GCPHN requests that this information is circulated to staff so that they may access a COVID-19 vaccination.

 

Residential Aged Care Employee Support Program

The Department is supporting facilities through the Residential Aged Care Employee Support Program.

The Residential Aged Care Employee Support Grant seeks to support the Residential Aged Care Sector (the Sector) in ensuring that all staff within a residential aged care facility are able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine while minimising the financial impact on the residential aged care provider and the individual employee.  The program will contribute towards costs incurred by eligible residential aged care providers (Providers) supplying or facilitating COVID-19 vaccinations for staff. More information can be found online here.

 

Vaccination Information for Staff in English and Other Languages

A number of resources have been produced by the Department to assist with concerns that staff may have around vaccinations, with many available in a range of languages.

These resources are available here:

• COVID-19 vaccines – is it true?  Answers to common questions on COVID-19 vaccines.
• COVID_19 shared decision making guide for women or are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy

 

VACCINATION OPTIONS FOR RACF STAFF

Dedicated Outreach/ In-Reach and Hub Clinics

At an outreach, in-reach or hub model clinic any RACF worker or resident that requires a Pfizer vaccine should receive one.

This includes:

• residents that require a first and/or second dose
• workers that require a first and/or second dose
• providing make up doses (missed second doses) where needed for residents and workers, including where the six-week recommended maximum interval has been exceeded

Each RACF will have a unique dedicated clinic pathway. These dedicated clinics are non-ongoing and are an additional short-term pathway for RACF staff to access mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.

GCPHN will liaise directly with all Gold Coast facilities to provide priority pathway options for staff.

 

Priority access at state clinics

Residential aged care workers have priority access to a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Queensland Health vaccination clinics.

The closest state vaccination clinic is the Broadbeach COVID-19 Vaccination Centre adjacent to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on the Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach.

Broadbeach COVID-19 Vaccination Centre has been directed to prioritise Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) workers who present as walk-ins or who book online.

The Broadbeach COVID-19 Vaccination Centre opening hours are:

• Monday-Friday | 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
• Saturday and Sunday | 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

Free parking is available onsite.

Workers can register online for their COVID-19 vaccination at the new centre here or phone 134-COVID (13 24 68) to make an appointment.

Commonwealth

A dedicated priority service has been established through the National Coronavirus Helpline, to help the residential aged care facilities workforce to make a vaccine appointment with general practice and Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics. The service is staffed by clinical call handlers and can assist with enquiries, managing concerns, and can guide callers through the Eligibility Checker and Vaccine Clinic Finder, to make a booking.

The service is accessed by calling 1800 020 080 and choosing option 4.

What to bring to your vaccination: Proof of Employment for RACF workforce

The Commonwealth Government Department of Health has developed a Proof of Employment form for aged care workers to assist accessing these appointments. It is recommended that staff bring a copy of the proof of employment form, along with ID to their vaccination appointment.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the practice support team via reply email or phone 075612 5408