Why you should be vaccinated against COVID-19
Protecting yourself through vaccination will help to protect the people you care for, your family and community from the impacts of COVID-19 including serious illness, hospitalisation and death.
Vaccination continues to be important in managing the risks related to COVID-19 in high-risk settings such as residential aged care.
Although the Australian Government is not mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for workers, aged care workers 18 years of age or older are encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccination every 12 months.
Getting vaccinated will help to protect against infection and severe disease for you and the people you care for. As state and territory governments may have requirements for vaccinations for workers, we recommend you check with your local government for the latest health advice or vaccination requirements. .
Aged care providers can also adopt their own policies and work health and safety arrangements. Under state and territory workplace safety legislation aged care services are responsible for providing a safe working environment for staff and visitors.
The immunity from COVID-19 vaccines wanes over time. Regular vaccinations bolster a person’s immune response and provides an additional layer of protection to further reduce the risk of infection.
You don’t have to wait 6 months since your last COVID-19 infection to get a vaccination.
Additional doses increase protection against infection, serious illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.
Volunteering your COVID-19 vaccination status to your employer
Aged care providers are no longer required to report on staff COVID-19 vaccinations via the My Aged Care Service and Support Portal.
Residential aged care workers can voluntarily inform their employer of when they’ve received a COVID-19 vaccination.
Your residential aged care home is required to keep records and they may be required to report on the number of workers who have voluntarily informed them they’ve received a COVID-19 vaccination.
How to prove you’ve received a COVID-19 vaccination
When you voluntarily inform your employer of your COVID-19 vaccination status, they may ask you to provide proof.
There are 2 options for you to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination to your employer:
- The COVID-19 and Influenza (flu) Immunisation History Statement – displays all COVID-19 and influenza vaccination information (including medical contraindications) recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
- The Immunisation History Statement – displays all vaccinations that an individual has had, including COVID-19, that have been reported to the AIR.
See more information on how to access your Immunisation History Statements.
More information about COVID-19 vaccines
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