From today, all Victorian aged care and disability workers can walk up to any state vaccination centre and get vaccinated as part of a government blitz to ensure these critical care staff are protected against coronavirus.
Minister for Health, Martin Foley said that from now until Sunday 29 August, all residential aged-care workers and residential disability care workers will be given priority access at any state-run vaccination centre to receive the vaccine of their choice, regardless of age. They will also continue to be given priority access to booked vaccination appointments, he said.
The one-week window of opportunity comes after the Victorian Government set the target for one million Victorians to receive a vaccination in five weeks. It follows an earlier blitz in June for aged and disability care workers.
“Aged and disability care workers know how vulnerable some Victorians are to COVID-19, which is why we are making even easier for them to get vaccinated and protect themselves and their residents,” the Health Minister said.
While vaccinating private residential aged care was the responsibility of the Commonwealth, the Victorian Government said it was stepping in to ensure staff could easily get vaccinated before September 17.
“This blitz is making it even easier for our dedicated and hardworking aged care and disability workers to get vaccinated while also helping us reach our goal of one million vaccine doses in five weeks,” said Disability, Ageing and Carers Minister, Luke Donnellan.
All private and residential aged care workers in Australia are required to receive their first vaccination dose by September 17 as a condition of employment, as mandated by National Cabinet.
The majority of Victoria’s residential public sector aged care staff in Victoria have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Staff will need to have their residential aged care or disability staff ID card or proof of employment.
