Updated Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination Direction

The South Australian Business Chamber Today — 13 January, 2022

Are you across the latest Emergency Management (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination No 5) (COVID-19) Direction 2022, which takes effect at 12.01am on 29 January 2022?

Key changes include
From 29 January 2022 people who engage in work or perform duties in Healthcare Settings need to within 4 weeks of becoming eligible:

• have a COVID-19 booster shot (third dose) or
• have evidence of a booking to receive a COVID-19 booster shot.

This applies to all persons engaging in work or duties at a Healthcare Setting including clinicians, ambulance workers, allied health workers, cleaners, administrative and executive staff and students undertaking placement, regardless of whether they work in a patient or a non-patient area.
It also applies to all people who attend a Healthcare Setting incidentally, such as delivery drivers or suppliers.
Does this apply to everyone who engages in work or performs duties in a Healthcare Setting?
It’s important to note that a person who engages in work or performs duties in Healthcare Settings is not required to have a COVID-19 booster shot if:

• They have a medical certificate or a letter from a legally qualified medical practitioner certifying that the person:
  • Has a medical exemption from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine on either a permanent or temporary basis in accordance with guidelines published by ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation); or
  • Has a medical exemption on either a permanent or temporary basis from receiving the preferred vaccine as recommended by ATAGI for the person’s age; or
  • Has an appointment to be assessed by a medical specialist or has started an assessment to determine if they have a medical exemption; and
  • The certificate or letter specifies the nature of the exemption and the basis on which it applies; and
  • The Chief Public Health Officer or her delegate has endorsed the exemption; and
  • The person provides the operator of the healthcare setting with a copy of the endorsement.
• Or, the person is responding to a non-medical emergency or urgent maintenance task (such as responding to a lift breakdown or a fire).

Other existing requirements remain and all requirements to this Direction can be accessed here .
If you need any support or advice, please contact our Business Advice Hotline on (08) 8300 0000. The South Australian Business Chamber can also provide you with Workplace Consultancy support to manage this issue in your workplace.