An exemption which allows a person who has had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to continue working without the third dose if they have been assessed by the facility as being essential to the operation of the provision of services to people with a disability or people receiving in-home and community aged care services.For staff (including new staff) who have had 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, they must have their third dose within 6 weeks of their third dose being due.Įxemptions under the Public Health (COVID-19 Care Services) Order (No 2) 2022 relating to the third dose of a COVID-19 vaccination may apply to some staff, including: The third dose is due 3 months after a person's second dose. Under the Public Health (COVID-19 Care Services) Order (No 2) 2022 all staff, health practitioners and students providing in-home and community aged care or disability services must have had 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. For reasons when masks can be removed please see Additional Advice – mask wearing.Īll staff should be vaccinated according to the recommended schedule in the ATAGI guidance for residential aged care workers. It is recommended that all home care staff wear a surgical mask whilst providing the home care.At a minimum, testing should occur three times per week, as regular COVID-19 rapid antigen testing is more effective that singular tests to identify cases. It is recommended that home care staff undergo a COVID-19 RAT prior to commencement of each shift.Staff, including students and contractors, should not provide a home care service if they have acute respiratory or influenza-like symptoms.

It is strongly recommended that all staff be vaccinated for influenza this winter, and that home care service providers communicate with their staff, families, and other visitors to remind them about the importance of influenza vaccination.The second COVID-19 booster should be given 3 months after their first booster dose, or 3 months after a confirmed COVID-19 infection. All residents should be strongly encouraged to receive the 2022 seasonal flu vaccine, which can be given on the same day or at any time before or after their second COVID-19 booster (winter booster).Home care service providers should take precautionary steps in managing the 2022 winter flu season.Home care service providers who are household and close contacts should not attend vulnerable clients unless a specific COVID-19 return to work plan is in place Winter flu season The advice on this page also applies to people working within the Commonwealth Home Support Programme. In-home and community aged care and disability care workers are required to have 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.Ī vaccination exemption is in place until 6 September 2022, allowing a person to continue working without the third dose. With increasing COVID-19 in the community, it is important that home care service providers maintain a high degree of vigilance and continue to take precautionary actions such as regular screening of staff, mask wearing and hand hygiene.

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