The Western Health Staff Influenza Prevention program offers a free vaccine to every member of staff in a bid to keep our Health Service influenza safe.
Additionally, this year maintaining up-to-date vaccination against COVID continues to be an integral defence to protect us against this disease. Boosters are important to maintain this protection.
This year staff will be able to receive both the influenza vaccine, and if they wish a COVID booster vaccine at the same time.
The 2023 Influenza and COVID Immunisation Program was recently launched across all Western Health sites.
The annual influenza vaccine is mandatory for all Category A and B healthcare workers, which includes the vast majority of nurses and midwives:
- These are healthcare workers who have direct physical contact with patients, clients, deceased persons or body parts, blood, body substances, infectious material or surfaces or equipment that might contain these OR
- Contact that might allow respiratory infections to be acquired or transmitted, which includes workers with prolonged face-to-face contact with patients or clients or where their normal work is in a clinical area.
We encourage Category C staff to receive the influenza vaccination to protect themselves and their loved ones.
The COVID booster is not mandatory, but highly recommended.
Staff from all areas are invited to attend any of our fixed or roaming immunisation clinics. Fixed and roaming clinic dates will be publicised and will be made available on the Western Health Infection Prevention intranet site.
Please be reminded that:
- Staff must have their Medicare card or IHI number in order to be vaccinated.
- If staff have been vaccinated at another hospital, by a GP or elsewhere, please complete a quick Redcap survey click on link access: Influenza Immunisation Survey and attach your immunisation certificate and/or provide us with consent for Western Health Immunisation staff to check your Australian Immunisation Record (AIR)
- All staff who decline the influenza vaccination (including Category A, B and C staff) must complete their declaration on Redcap. Please follow this link to access: Influenza Immunisation Survey
- Staff who have one of the 3 medical exemptions to receiving the influenza vaccine MUST complete a Redcap survey and attach a medical certificate from a medical practitioner. Please click on the link to access: Influenza Immunisation Survey.
- Managers will need to monitor their MAP report and follow up on Category A and B staff uptake of influenza vaccination and any staff declinations.