Vaccine Information for Employees

Learn more about the Monash Health COVID-19 vaccination program.

On this page

• Overview
• Vaccination prioritisation
• Before vaccination
• On vaccination day
• After vaccination
• COVID-19 vaccine – frequently asked questions
• Resources for Employees

A vaccine is a significant step forward in our fight against COVID-19.

There is overwhelming scientific evidence that vaccination is the best defence against serious infection and illness. Getting vaccinated means less risk for you, your colleagues and your patients.

Monash Health’s vaccination program began Monday 22 February for priority Phase 1A employees at Clayton and for residents and carers at Eastwood Hostel Aged Care.

This makes us one of the first sites in the country to be administering the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Vaccination prioritisation

Working in line with the government’s designated rollout schedule, we will begin with Phase 1a: Frontline healthcare workers, aged care and disability care staff and residents, quarantine and border workers.

As Monash Health has over 5,000 Phase 1a employees, we will prioritise employees within Phase 1a based on exposure risk. This means you may be vaccinated at a later or earlier date than other members of your team. Everyone will have an opportunity to be vaccinated, so please be patient.

Initial priority Phase 1a employees are:

• Priority employees in any role working in ED, Adult ICU, Paediatric ICU and COVID positive management wards (employees will be prioritised based on exposure risk).
• Other priority employees including MET/Code teams, Aged Care Facility employees, those that care for COVID patients directly and relevant microbiologists.

The vaccination program will start at Clayton and Eastwood Hostel, with vaccination for priority Phase 1a employees expected to begin at Dandenong and Casey soon thereafter.

You will be contacted directly to organise your appointment time. You do not need to actively seek out information about your appointment; it will be provided to you based on eligibility.

Employees on parental leave will not be eligible for vaccination until they have returned to work.

For any questions relating to eligibility, or assistance with COVID-19 vaccinations, contact the Monash Health Vaccination Hotline on 9594-5815 (7am-8pm, seven days a week).

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Before vaccination

• If you have been offered vaccination in the first group of Monash Health employees (which commenced 22 February), you will be contacted directly to book your appointment. Other employees should await further information via email.
• Employees with a history of immediate-onset anaphylaxis to a vaccine, medicine or food, or who answer yes to any of the Vaccination Checklist questions must contact the Monash Health COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline on 9594 5815 for further guidance as soon as possible.
• You will receive all booking confirmations and reminder notifications via your Monash Health email. If you cannot attend for some reason you must notify your manager and update your booking online as soon as possible.

On Vaccination Day

• Ensure you attend the clinic at the correct time and complete the Pre-vaccination Checklist provided to you at the appointment.
• Wear a mask and remember to practice social distancing.
• After vaccination, you will remain at the clinic for 15-30 minutes following the injection and will then be signed-out.
• Potential reactions will be discussed with you as part of the vaccination procedure.

After Vaccination

• Once you have been signed-out, you can return to your shift.
• You may experience mild to moderate side effects as a result of the vaccine, including pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache and / or raised temperature. These symptoms commonly present and resolve within three days of vaccination.
• As per routine guidelines, you should not come to work if you are unwell, however mild side effects from a recent vaccination might not keep you from working. Please notify your manager as soon as possible if you are unwell following your vaccination.
• If you are too unwell to come to work but are well enough to work from home, and your job enables you to do so, this may be an option.
• Vaccination-related sick leave will be recorded in Kronos using the code ‘1918 Covid Vax Sick’
• You can call the Monash Health COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline on 9594 5815 (external) or extension 45815 (internal) if further advice is needed (7am – 8pm, seven days a week) post-vaccination. The Hotline will provide a triage and advice service escalating to the Infectious Diseases and Immunisation teams as required.
• Outside the Hotline hours contact the on call Infectious Diseases registrar through Monash Health switchboard (9594 6666).
• All side effects must be reported to SAEFVIC. To complete a report, follow the below steps:
  • Go to SAEFVIC
  • Register and set up your reporting account or login if you have registered previously
  • Click on the Report Adverse Event tab and start reporting
  • Click on the Save and Next> button to proceed through the report and then click Submit to complete

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COVID-19 Vaccine – Frequently asked questions

The following Frequently Asked Questions are based on the most current information available to Monash Health Employees. We will provide updates as information becomes available.

Refer to our About the Vaccines section for the latest information and FAQs about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, benefits and safety.

Information about COVID-19 vaccines in other languages is available from the Australian Government. Find information in your language at https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines.

Eligibility and timing of your vaccination

• Who will be vaccinated first?
• When will frontline healthcare workers be vaccinated?
• When will remote working employees be offered the vaccine?
• Will employees on parental leave get the vaccination?
• If I am not an Australian citizen will I be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine?
• Do I get a choice of vaccine type?

Getting the vaccine

• How do I book my appointment?
• Will vaccination appointments be available during shifts?
• Where will the COVID-19 vaccination clinics be located?
• Is vaccination mandatory?
• I also work for another health care provider – can I accept a vaccination offer from them if I haven’t received one yet from Monash Health?

After your vaccination

• If I experience side effects and need to take leave, will this come out of my sick leave?
• Do I still need to practice other COVIDsafe behaviours once I’ve been vaccinated?
• Do I still need the vaccine if those around me at work are vaccinated?
• Can I help with Monash Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination program?
• Will there be enough COVID-19 vaccines to immunise all Australians?
• Will I be notified in the event of a data leak/breach?

Eligibility and timing of your vaccination

Who will be vaccinated first?

Working in line with the government’s designated rollout schedule, we will begin with Phase 1a: Frontline healthcare workers, aged care staff and residents, quarantine and border workers.

When will frontline healthcare workers be vaccinated?

Monash Health has over 5,000 Phase 1a employees, so we will prioritise employees within Phase 1a in order of their risk of infection.

Vaccination for Initial priority Phase 1a employees commenced 22 February 2021.

Initial priority Phase 1a employees are:

• Priority employees in any role working in ED, Adult ICU, Paediatric ICU and COVID positive management wards (employees will be prioritised based on exposure risk).
• Other priority employees including MET/Code teams, Aged Care Facility employees, those that care for COVID patients directly and relevant microbiologists.

The vaccination program will start at Clayton and Eastwood Hostel, with vaccination for priority Phase 1a employees expected to begin at Dandenong and Casey soon thereafter.

You will be contacted directly to organise your appointment time. You do not need to actively seek out information about your appointment; it will be provided to you based on eligibility.

The overall time to vaccinate all frontline healthcare workers will be dependent on vaccine supply and vaccination logistics.

When will remote working employees be offered the vaccine?

We are working in line with the government’s designated rollout schedule, beginning with Phase 1a: Frontline healthcare workers, aged care employees and aged care residents.

As we work through our priority groups, the timing of additional groups of employees will be made available.

You will be contacted directly to organise your appointment time. You do not need to actively seek out information about your appointment; it will be provided to you based on eligibility.

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Will employees on parental leave get the vaccination?

Employees on parental leave will not be eligible for vaccination until they have returned to work.

If I am not an Australian citizen will I be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine?

The Australian Government has made COVID-19 vaccines available free of charge for all Australian citizens, permanent residents and temporary visa holders.

Do I get a choice of vaccine type?

No, under the Federal Government’s rollout program you will be provided with the vaccine that is available at the time of your vaccination.

Early priority groups will receive the Pfizer vaccine because that is the first vaccine to be approved and available in Australia. Most Australians will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Both vaccines need to be dispensed in two doses, separated by at least 21 days for the Pfizer vaccine, and four to 12 weeks for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable. The course of vaccination should be completed using the same vaccine for both doses.

For more information on Australia’s vaccine rollout visit https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines.

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Getting the vaccine

How do I book my appointment?

If you have been offered vaccination in the first group of Monash Health employees (commencing 22 February), you will be contacted directly to book your appointment.

All other employees will be contacted via email regarding the appointment process.

Will vaccination appointments be available during shifts?

Yes. Vaccination clinics will offer appointments seven days a week, including early opening hours for night shift employees.

Where will the COVID-19 vaccination clinics be located?

Clinic locations are confirmed across MMC Clayton, Dandenong and Casey:

• MMC Clayton: Clinic D
• Dandenong: West 2 breakout room
• Casey: Ward D

I also work for another health care provider – can I accept a vaccination offer from them if I haven’t received one yet from Monash Health?

Yes. If this is the case, please inform your manager of your plans as soon as possible so they can ensure we have a record of your vaccine status.

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After your vaccination

If I experience side effects and need to take leave, will this come out of my sick leave?

You may experience minor side effects after vaccination. Please refer to the Post Vaccination Guide for advice about post-vaccination.

If you need to take leave as a result, this should be taken as sick leave and recorded under the ‘1918 Covid-vaccine sick’ code in Kronos.

Do I still need to practice other COVIDsafe behaviours once I’ve been vaccinated?

Yes, COVIDSafe practices remain vital for everyone whether you’ve been vaccinated or not. This includes wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment required for your role and social distancing.

Remember, protection against COVID-19 starts from about 2–3 weeks after the first dose. While one dose may give some protection, it may only last for the short-term. Two doses will give optimal protection.

No vaccine is 100% effective. We must all remain COVIDSafe.

Do I still need the vaccine if those around me at work are vaccinated?

COVID-19 is highly communicable across communities. While your workmates and family may be vaccinated, there is no guarantee around other environments you will encounter, such as shopping centres, public transport, entertainment venues, or visiting family and friends. Vaccination is highly recommended as the best way of protecting yourself from a serious illness.

Can I help with Monash Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination program?

Yes, we are accepting expressions of interest from nursing and administration employees. Training in clinic processes, COVID-19 vaccination protocols, and information systems will be provided and enabled through a supportive environment.

We are looking for:

• Credentialed nurse immunisers with an interest in temporarily supporting our vaccination clinics as a site coordinator or in the vaccination pool.
• Administration employees with an interest in temporarily supporting our vaccination clinics as administrative team leaders or administrative clerks.

To express your interest, please email Anita Lovegrove

Will there be enough COVID-19 vaccines to immunise all Australians?

The Australian Government is responsible for the vaccine rollout and has said there will be enough COVID-19 vaccines for the entire Australian population. The rollout will increase as more vaccine becomes available.

Will I be notified in the event of a data leak/breach?

The Victorian Government has built a secure, online COVID-19 Vaccine Management System (CVMS) to protect against any such incidents.

However, in the unlikely event, there is a data leak or breach, all Victorians who have used the CVMS will be notified in accordance with the requirements of the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner.

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Monash Health Vaccination Forums

Watch the recordings of previous employee vaccination forums.

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