Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all employees
As of today, we have:
- 50 COVID-19 positive inpatients
- Three employees with COVID-19
- 121 employees in precautionary quarantine (81 from external exposures)
The Chief Health Officer has released a direction on mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers. In line with this commitment, all Monash Health employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to continue working in our health service.
We are well on the way to achieving this, with 87% of employees having already received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. I would like to thank those who have taken this important step or have recently booked an appointment to do so. For those who have not yet acted, the time to do so is now.
The CHO direction gives us three clear dates:
- By 15 October 2021 all employees must:
- have had a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, or
- provide proof of a vaccination booking to occur by 29 October 2021.
- By 29 October 2021 all employees must:
- have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and
- provide proof of a second vaccination booking by 15 December 2021.
- By 15 December 2021 all employees must:
- have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you do not meet the requirements listed above, you will not be able to continue working in a Victorian health service unless you have a valid medical exemption. This applies to all employees; clinical and non-clinical, casuals, administrative teams, volunteers, students, contractors, those working from home and those on long-term leave (who will need to be vaccinated before returning to work). We will do everything we can to work with you to ensure you can get vaccinated in time and will give you priority access at any of our hospital-based or high-volume vaccination clinics.
How to book your vaccination
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.
You may be entitled to time off without loss of pay to receive your COVID-19 vaccination. Read about eligibility, Kronos codes, and check the leave flowchart in the paid leave article on iNews.
If you experience side effects from your vaccination and need to take leave, special paid leave is available.
Evidence of vaccination or vaccination booking
The CHO’s direction requires evidence of vaccination. We are working on a mechanism for collecting these and will share further details shortly. The important thing at this stage is that you get vaccinated or make a booking to have your first dose before 15 October 2021.
How to update our records if you think there may be an error
It’s important we have the most up-to-date information regarding your vaccination status. If you believe the information in our records is incorrect, please let us know by completing this form.
Working from home and vaccination
If you work from home, you are still required to be vaccinated. While you may not currently work onsite, it is an expectation that you are ready to do so, as required. Exclusively working from home will not be considered an alternative to getting vaccinated.
Seeking a medical exemption from vaccination
The grounds for a medical exemption for the COVID-19 vaccination are very limited. We will provide details of the process for applying for an exemption and the evidence required shortly.
Getting further advice
It’s natural that 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, you can call the Employee Coronavirus Hotline on 9594 5815 from 7am to 8pm, seven days a week. COVID-19 vaccination information is also available in many languages as required.
Vaccination is free, safe and effective. We are seeing this every day in our health service, with the vast majority of those hospitalised with COVID-19 being unvaccinated.
At this week’s employee forum, Professor Rhonda Stuart gave a detailed presentation on the evidence of COVID-19 vaccination efficacy and answered some of your more frequently asked questions. If you have concerns or would like to view the data, I strongly encourage you to watch the full presentation – you can do this here.
As healthcare workers, we have a powerful role to play in ensuring continued capacity in the health system for those who need it. Please, do your part by getting vaccinated today 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.