10 March 2022

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccines: Department of Health Disability Provider Alerts (2 March and 9 March 2022)

The Australian Government Department of Health (Department of Health) has issued two new Disability Provider Alerts with updated vaccine information for disability providers.

Key points

• The Department of Health has issued two new Disability Provider Alerts.
• All NDIS participants and disability workers are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Information and support to access COVID-19 vaccinations should be facilitated, to both NDIS participants and workers.

Department of Health provider alert (2 March 2022)

The Department of Health has issued a COVID-19 vaccination – Disability Provider Alert - 2 March 2022.

The alert contains important information about the continued rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, including:

• recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) for the use of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for primary vaccination in children aged 6-11 years old
• guidance from the Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in disability settings. This includes information on how to request an emergency supply of PPE from the National Medical Stockpile
• distribution of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to supported independent living (SIL) providers
• easy-read resources from the Department of Health on COVID-19 vaccination and emergency planning and testing
• advice from ATAGI regarding same day administration of the influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations
• assistance pathways available to people with disability and their support networks, including via the National Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccine Helpline (phone 1800 020 080) and the Disability Gateway.

We encourage you to read the Department of Health provider alert for the full details.

Department of Health provider alert (9 March 2022)

The Department of Health has issued a COVID-19 vaccination – Disability Provider Alert - 9 March 2022.

The alert contains important information about the continued rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, including:

• latest recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) on booster doses
• guidance on vaccination after testing positive to COVID-19
• an update on the booster in-reach program
• updates from the NDIA on claiming for RATs and meal preparation and delivery support
• booster mandates for disability workers
• assistance pathways available to people with disability and their support networks, including via the National Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccine Helpline (phone 1800 020 080) and the Disability Gateway.

We encourage you to read the Department of Health provider alert for the full details.

Promoting access to COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters

Supporting NDIS participants to access COVID-19 vaccinations

All NDIS participants aged 5 years and over are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants aged 16 and older are also eligible for a booster dose if they have completed their primary course of a COVID-19 vaccination at least three months ago.

We have published a statement about the right of people with disability to make their own decision about COVID-19 vaccination, and the role of NDIS providers and workers in supporting participants. This was sent to registered providers on 5 November 2021. 

Providers should take all steps to assist participants that they support to access the vaccination where they need assistance to do so, including boosters. Further information is available on the Department of Health website, including Easy Read and Auslan resources.

Our provider alert of 9 June 2021 contained resources to help you to support participants to understand the vaccination process and to provide informed consent.

Our fact sheet, called ‘COVID-19 Vaccines: Informed consent, preparing for the vaccine, and restrictive practices’, aims to assist NDIS providers to better understand their obligations when supporting people with disability to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Department of Health has published a COVID-19 vaccination consent form in easy read format.

To assist people with disability to learn more about COVID-19 booster doses, the Department of Health has also developed the following easy read resources:

• Fact sheet about the third dose
• Fact sheet about the booster dose
• Fact sheet about the difference between the third dose and a booster dose.

Vaccination advice and information for disability workers

All states and territories have issued public health orders or directions (with mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements for workers, including disability workers):

• Victoria
• Northern Territory
• New South Wales
• Western Australia
• Australian Capital Territory
• Tasmania
• South Australia
• Queensland

Providers are strongly encouraged to check the details of the public health orders in the states or territories in which they operate and any updated requirements for providers in respect of the vaccination status of disability workers, including any requirements for booster doses.

Our 22 November 2021 provider alert was sent to NDIS providers that are registered to deliver intensive support services to NDIS participants. It contained details about a request for information under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 regarding the COVID-19 vaccination status of workers. Our 10 February 2022 letter contained important information about a variation to the original request for information.

The request for information was also sent to additional providers that are registered to deliver intensive support services to NDIS participants on 11 February 2022.

It is a condition of registration that registered providers comply with such a notice under the NDIS Act and providers are strongly encouraged to take any necessary steps to comply with the notice.

The Department of Health has dedicated information pages for disability service providers about COVID-19 vaccines.

• Providers: The webpage for disability service providers contains information and resources to help you plan for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
• Disability workers: The webpage for disability workers contains information and resources about COVID-19 vaccines for disability workers.

The Department of Health will continue to update the information on these pages, so we strongly encourage you to visit these pages regularly.

NDIS Commission COVID-19 vaccine information and resources

The COVID-19 vaccine information webpage on our website contains links to updates about COVID-19 vaccines and resources for NDIS providers.

We also have a COVID-19 vaccine webpage containing information for people with disability.