All residential aged care workers are eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine regardless of age. You can choose to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
You do not need a Medicare card to book an appointment or receive a vaccine.
Book your appointment now
Residential aged care workers can book an appointment at www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/book-your-vaccine-appointment or by calling the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 (for priority access appointments).
You can also call the COVID-19 Vaccine Helpline on 1800 020 080 (select option 4). The dedicated COVID-19 Vaccine Helpline can answer any questions you may have about vaccination and can help you book a vaccination appointment.
Mandatory vaccination by 16 September 2021
Victoria’s Department of Health has notified all residential aged care providers to ensure all workers have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by 16 September 2021.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has endorsed the scope of the workforce to establish mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements for the following residential aged care workers:
- Full time, part-time and casual staff employed or engaged on behalf of the residential aged care facility (RACF) (such as agency staff working onsite) including: o Direct care workforce (nurses; personal care workers; allied health professionals, and allied health assistants)
- Administration staff (reception; management; administration)
- Ancillary staff (food preparation; cleaning; laundry; garden; maintenance)
- Lifestyle / social care (music/art therapy); Transport drivers collecting residents from RACFs for outings
- Volunteers engaged by the RACF
- Students on placement
- Medical practitioners who attend and provide care to residents.
Additional vaccination sites
In addition to priority access through Victorian vaccination clinics, the Department of Health is working with each residential aged care facility to ensure plans are in place, and to provide support where needed, to ensure every residential aged care worker has access to a COVID-19 vaccination prior to mid-September. Ask your employer about the following options:
- Onsite clinics in workplace delivered by:
- residential aged care providers
- GPs
- Commonwealth vaccine providers.
- Dedicated vaccination hubs delivered by Commonwealth vaccine providers near facilities.
State and territory clinics and primary care clinics, including general practices, Commonwealth vaccination clinics (GP respiratory clinics), Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services or pharmacies, are also prioritising residential aged care workers.
Residential aged care workers need only identify themselves to these clinics to receive an appointment within seven days. Workers can refer to the eligibility checker at Health.gov.au for available clinics or call the dedicated COVID-19 Vaccine Helpline on 1800 020 080 (select option 4) for any questions about vaccination or for help to book a vaccination appointment.
Please notify your workplace if you get vaccinated off-site
Your aged care provider reports weekly via My Aged Care on the number of residential aged care workers vaccinated, so it is important for workers to notify your workplace if you have received a COVID-19 vaccination.
All providers are strongly encouraged to keep workforce vaccination data up-to-date to ensure the department understands workforce vaccination rates in the lead up to mandatory vaccination to ensure all workers have access to a COVID-19 vaccine.
What do I need to take to my vaccination appointment?
Residential aged care workers can confirm their eligibility for priority vaccination by providing the following documents:
- proof of identity (e.g. driver’s licence, passport, birth certificate) and
- proof of employment (e.g. one of the following)
- letter from your employer confirming you have priority access
- current work ID card or payslip confirming you are currently employed at a residential aged care facility, and
- Medicare card, if you have one (not needed).