Vaccination Update from Department of Communities Mandatory Third Dose 05.01.22
Western Australian workers who come under an existing vaccine mandate are now be required to have a third dose as part of the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.
The third dose is mandatory for all eligible workers in industries covered by a vaccine mandate through various Public Health Act (2016) Directions.
All employees mandated to be vaccinated for work purposes under the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy must receive a third dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine within one month of becoming eligible.
As of 4 January 2022 the wait time for a third COVID-19 vaccine dose reduced to four months, from 31 January 2022 this will reduce to three months.
Who do these new rules apply to?
People who work or volunteer in community sector organisations will, in almost all cases, be classified as Group 1 or Group 2 occupations:
- Group 1: Industries and occupations determined to have high transmission risk, vulnerability risk or are necessary or critical to the safety of the community.
- Group 2: Industries and workforce deemed critical to the ongoing delivery of critical services to the community.
Everyone in Group 1 should already be double-dose vaccinated. The final date for Group 1 to be double-dose vaccinated was 1 January 2022.
Everyone in Group 2 needs to be double dose vaccinated by 31 January 2022.
The only exception is if the person has a medical exemption or a temporary exemption.
What are the new rules?
People in Group 1 and Group 2 occupations all require a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Spikevax (Moderna) vaccines as the COVID-19 third doses.
People are now eligible to get their third dose four months after their second dose. From 31 January 2022 this will reduce to three months after their second dose.
If a person was eligible to have their third dose on 24 December 2021, when the Directions were made, they must have had third dose by 5 February 2022.
If a person becomes eligible after 24 December 2021, they must have their booster vaccination within one month of becoming eligible.
Where can I get my third dose?
You can get your third dose at state run clinics, GPs, pharmacies and Aboriginal Medical Services. It is vital that people book ahead to ensure that people are spread out evenly across the day.
For more information and to find your nearest vaccine provider, visit www.rollupforwa.com.au
What records are needed?
Each person in Group 1 or Group 2 needs to show evidence of their vaccination status.
This could be:
- an Australian Government COVID-19 vaccination certificate or an Immunisation Statement recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register.
- an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate issued by the Australian Government.
- written confirmation issued by the WA Department of Health of the COVID-19 vaccination received by them.
Organisations are required to securely keep a record of their employees’ and volunteers’ vaccination status.
Employees or volunteers with exemptions need to provide evidence of their exemption.
What if the employees or volunteers do not provide evidence?
If the employee or volunteer does not provide this evidence, they cannot enter or stay on-premises where their work takes place.
To find out more, read the Directions online here
