This information has been superseded by new ATAGI advice for early 2023 COVID-19 booster doses and will be updated shortly.
Why you should be vaccinated against COVID-19
Protecting yourself through vaccination will help to protect your family and community from the impacts of COVID-19 including serious illness, death and complications for workplace resourcing.
Vaccination continues to be important in managing the risk related to COVID-19 in high-risk settings such as residential aged care. Aged care workers are strongly encouraged to stay up to date with their COVID_19 vaccination to aid protection against both infection and severe disease for themselves and the people they care for.
Some jurisdictions have requirements in relation to worker COVID-19 vaccinations. Aged care workers and providers should stay up to date with the settings in place in their jurisdiction and note that these settings do change.
How to get your COVID-19 vaccinations
You are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination when you have received a booster dose at least three months after your second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The immunity created by COVID-19 vaccines begins to wane over time. Boosters will bolster a person’s immune response and provide an additional layer to further reduce the risk of breakthrough infection.
Booster doses increase protection against infection, severe disease, and dying from COVID-19.
Why your employer needs to know your vaccination status
Residential aged care workers may be required to notify their employer of their COVID-19 vaccination status under state and territory public health orders mandating vaccination in residential aged care.
Your residential aged care service is required to keep records and report on the number of workers who have received a COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses.
This information is published on our website by aged care home.
Second booster doses are voluntary, and you are not required to report this dose to your employer.
Read more about mandatory COVID-19 vaccination reporting.
How to prove your vaccination status
There are 2 options for you to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination in Australia:
- A COVID-19 Digital Certificate – updated for each dose of vaccine, including a booster dose.
- An Immunisation History Statement – which displays all vaccinations or medical contraindications and authorised exemptions, including COVID-19, that have been reported to the Australian Immunisation Register.
Read the fact sheet on how residential aged care workers can prove their COVID-19 vaccination status.
Information about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines is available in many languages.
Resources for Workers
The following resources are available:
- COVID-19 booster information for residential aged care workers
- Letter from employer confirming priority eligibility for vaccination
- Who can get vaccinated
- Safety of COVID-19 vaccines
- Find out the facts about COVID-19 vaccines
These information sheets are available in several languages.