A focus on vaccination
As of today, we have:
- 19 COVID-19 positive inpatients
- Four employees with COVID-19
- 78 employees in precautionary quarantine
Case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalisation are increasing. Over the coming weeks, we expect to see the amount of infection in our community rise significantly and, with it, the number of people requiring our care.
There is a clear message from the experience of all health services dealing with the Delta outbreak – the people who require hospitalisation are those who haven’t been fully vaccinated.
If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, now is the time to take urgent action. Please don’t delay any longer.
If you have been vaccinated, please help spread the word to your colleagues and loved ones, encouraging them to do the same.
Will vaccination become mandatory for all healthcare workers?
We are anticipating that vaccination will become mandatory for all healthcare workers.
For you to continue to work in a health service, that would mean you would be required to be fully vaccinated, just as our colleagues in residential aged care are required to take that step by Friday.
From 17 September, vaccination is mandatory for residential aged care workers
On 17 September, residential aged care workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or show that they have booked to receive their first dose by 1 October.
The information below can help you understand how to access bookings, where to find more information, and how you can help your family and friends protect themselves.
How do I get vaccinated?
Visit a Monash Health clinic. You do not require a booking. Just bring your employee identification and Medicare card with you. Further details, including the opening hours and locations of our clinics, can be found here.
Which vaccine will be made available?
All Monash Health employees are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. If you are eligible, you can opt for AstraZeneca if you choose.
What do I need to do if I’ve been vaccinated elsewhere?
If you received your COVID-19 vaccine from another provider, please declare it using the online declaration form.
What do I need to do if I’ve decided not to be vaccinated?
Our Infection Prevention specialists are here to answer your questions and support you to make an informed choice. To discuss your circumstances, I encourage you to call the Employee Coronavirus Hotline on 9594 5815 from 7am to 8pm, seven days a week.
If you decide not to be vaccinated, please let us know by declaring it using the online declaration form.
What if I’m pregnant or trying to conceive?
Vaccination is safe for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant.
If you haven’t had the chance to listen to our Program Director of Monash Health Women’s and Newborn, A/Prof Ryan Hodges, speak about the risks unvaccinated pregnant women face from COVID-19, I strongly recommend you watch this video.
As A/Prof Hodges says: “It’s no longer what do I avoid in pregnancy to keep my baby safe? It’s what do I do in pregnancy to keep my baby safe?’ And that is to get vaccinated.”
Vaccination boosters
There has been an increased level of interest in the timing for COVID-19 vaccination boosters, particularly among our early adopters.
The Australian Government and our health experts closely monitor results from countries that began their vaccination program in advance of ours. Current indications from overseas studies of the longevity of protection are that those vaccinated earlier in the year in Australia do not require boosters.
We will continue to be guided by the latest advice and update you when and if boosters are needed.
Where can I get further advice?
You may have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine or have circumstances that you feel may not be amenable to vaccination. Our Infection Prevention specialists are here to answer your questions and support you to make an informed choice. To discuss your circumstances, I encourage you to call the Employee Coronavirus Hotline on 9594 5815 from 7am to 8pm, seven days a week.
Paid leave to attend vaccination appointments
Some employees may be entitled to time off without loss of pay to receive their COVID-19 vaccination. Read about eligibility, Kronos codes, and check the leave flowchart in the paid leave article on iNews. Check with your manager to ensure rostering is maintained if you decide to take leave.
Household member vaccination
Monash Health employees who work at MMC and Monash Children’s Hospital can now book Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccination appointments for their household members at the MMC vaccination clinic.
We are also reserving priority bookings for household members at the Sandown Racecourse Vaccination Centre and Cranbourne Turf Club Vaccination Centre through the COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline on 8572 2156.
Read more about Household Member Vaccination here.
Extended family and friends’ vaccination
We are providing early notification of vaccination appointment releases at Sandown Racecourse and Cranbourne Turf Club. These newly released slots are communicated every one to two weeks on iNews, so check the news feed regularly.
Please note, once released, the appointments are open to everyone and not a guaranteed booking for your family and friends.
You can continue to encourage your family and friends to check their eligibility and book their COVID-19 vaccination. Further details can be found on the South East Public Health Unit website booking information page.
Already vaccinated? Spread the word
Everyone can spread the word to our patients and community about booking into our vaccination centres at Sandown and Cranbourne. Download the flyer or direct them to the South East Public Health Unit website for more details and translated flyers. We also have patient-facing posters on eligibility, with helpful QR codes, for noticeboards in waiting areas you can download and print.
Information in other languages
We have the benefit of living in a diverse community, and you may have family, friends or patients who are looking for guidance in their own language. I would encourage you to take a look at the South East Public Health Unit website, where we have brought together links to material in many languages and other resources, which may be helpful.
A word from our community
Monash Health and its partners have delivered over 700,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to our employees and community members. This short video reminds us of the essential role we play in getting our community back to the things they love, and why vaccination doesn’t help just one, it helps us all. Watch the message from our grateful community.
Whether we work in clinical or support roles, we have a responsibility of care to the community we serve. We cannot care for and protect others if we do not first care for and protect ourselves. Please, get vaccinated if you have not already, and if you have any doubts about safety or efficacy, talk to an expert.
Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive
All managers are requested to share these updates with their teams and discuss at stand-ups and handovers. Please print a copy and display it in communication books and on employee noticeboards.
As advice and information evolve, please consult the latest updates and visit the Department of Health and Human Services and Monash Health COVID-19 website for employees regularly for the latest.