Published on 28 March 2022

Dear colleagues,

A reminder below that tomorrow is the final deadline for the mandatory third dose for health workers, and an update on ATAGI’s approval of a winter booster dose for groups at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Tuesday 29 March deadline for mandatory third dose

The final deadline for the mandatory third dose for healthcare workers is Tuesday 29 March and we still have about 140 staff yet to show evidence of receiving their third dose at a non-Western Health site or evidence of a medical exemption. Staff who don’t meet the deadline will not be permitted to work at Western Health or other Victorian health services after 29 March as per the Pandemic Orders. If this applies to you, please prioritise the showing of evidence today.

How to provide evidence of your vaccination status or medical exemption

  • Advice on providing evidence of your third dose at a non-Western Health site can be found on the microsite
  • If you have a medical exemption, please provide a copy of your COVID digital certificate to your manager who will forward a copy to your People and Culture Business Partner for recording.

ATAGI approves winter booster dose for groups at greater risk of severe illness

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has approved a winter booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine to increase vaccine protection before winter for selected cohorts at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and who have received their primary vaccination and third dose.

These groups are:

  • adults aged 65 years and older
  • residents of aged care or disability care facilities
  • people aged 16 years and older who are severely immunocompromised (as defined in the ATAGI statement on the use of a 3rd primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait lander people aged 50 years and older.

Documented proof of eligibility is not required at point of vaccination, verbal attestation is appropriate.

Eligible people will be able to receive their winter dose from four months after receiving their third dose, or from four months after a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, if infection has occurred since the person’s third dose.

ATAGI recommends that the rollout of the additional booster dose for these groups starts from April 2022, coinciding with the rollout of the 2022 influenza vaccination program.

For other groups not listed above, there is insufficient evidence of the benefits of an additional booster dose for ATAGI to make recommendations at this time.

Comirnaty (Pfizer) or Spikevax (Moderna) are the preferred vaccines for COVID-19 booster doses including the winter booster dose. Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) can be used when an mRNA vaccine is contraindicated or a person declines vaccination with an mRNA vaccine. Nuvaxovid (Novavax) can be used if no other COVID-19 vaccine is considered suitable for that person.

A fourth COVID-19 dose will help maintain protection against COVID-19 and prevent waning immunity.

Primary care will support winter doses from 1 April 2022. Winter doses will be available from all state-run vaccination centres from Monday 28 March, and people can book a winter dose through the CVMS online portal or call centre on 1800 675 398 from Friday 25 March. Note that eligible people who present at a vaccination centre before 28 March should be vaccinated with a winter dose if requested.

Health services should only provide winter doses to people who are eligible according to the ATAGI guidelines. No specific proof of eligibility is required – people can verbally attest that they are eligible.

Regards,

Shane Crowe
Executive Director, Nursing and Midwifery