COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate – FAQ
Workers in a healthcare setting (COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements) Direction
The Direction (effective 7:30pm AEST, 10 Nov 2021) gives effect to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s (AHPPC) recommendation for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all workers in healthcare settings as a condition of work and requires COVID-19 vaccination for workers in in-home aged care and disability support services.
Exemptions
What will happen to staff who have a genuine medical concern and seek an exemption and staff who object to being vaccinated?
An employee will be considered to have a medical contraindication for the purposes of applying for an exemption where they are unable to be vaccinated due to a recognised medical contraindication to the COVID-19 vaccine as outlined in a letter from their treating specialist medical practitioner.
A recognised medical contraindication is limited to include circumstances where the employee has a history of anaphylaxis or other recognised contraindications as outlined in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
FSPH will work with these employees to consider their circumstances (e.g. role, location) to explore alternative options to keep them, and our workplaces, safe.
For clarity, general objection to being vaccinated does not constitute a medical contraindication.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
What do we know about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy?
There is strong evidence that there is no risk of harm to the baby. mRNA doesn’t circulate itself through the blood, so it doesn’t travel to the placenta or the baby. There have also been recent publications showing that the rate of miscarriage in women who have been vaccinated is not different to rate of women who have not been vaccinated.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and ATAGI recommend vaccination for pregnant women. Pregnant women with COVID-19 have a higher risk of severe illness compared to non-pregnant women with COVID-19 of the same age. This includes increased risk of hospitalisation, admission to the ICU, and invasive ventilation.
Is it safe to get vaccinated while breastfeeding?
Yes. There is lots of data to show that it is safe to get vaccinated while breastfeeding. The vaccination is not secreted in breast milk.
Additional website resources and information
- Is it true? Get the facts on COVID-19 vaccines | Australian Government Department of Health
- COVID-19 vaccination – Shared decision making guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy | Australian Government Department of Health
- RANZCOG – COVID-19 Vaccination Information
- COVID-19 vaccination – Shared decision making guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy | Australian Government Department of Health.
- COVID-19 vaccine approval process | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
