COVID-19 vaccination for workers
Keep yourself protected from COVID-19
Given the rising number of cases of COVID-19 in southern states, the Department of Health continues to monitor reported levels of acute respiratory infections including COVID-19, Influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Queensland.
Vaccination remains our best protection against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Discuss with your healthcare provider current vaccination recommendations for you and your family. Book a vaccination appointment.
In addition to getting vaccinated, employees need to regularly wash their hands and stay home when sick to minimise the spread of acute respiratory infections such as COVID-19.
For staff in clinical settings, an acute respiratory infection prevention and control guideline is available.
Workers in Healthcare
It is recommended that Queensland Health, QAS and HHS employees and others consider the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advice regarding COVID-19 vaccination within a context of providing healthcare to the population of Queensland. Healthcare workers hold key professional responsibilities exemplified in the expectation to act in the best interests of patients (beneficence) and a duty in the code of conduct to minimise the risk of harm to others (non-maleficence).
The 1 September 2023 advice from ATAGI is:
ATAGI recommends that all adults aged ≥ 75 years should receive an additional 2023 COVID-19 vaccine dose if 6 months have passed since their last dose. ATAGI advises the following groups should consider an additional 2023 COVID-19 vaccine dose if 6 months have passed since their last dose, after discussion with their healthcare provider:
- All adults aged 65 to 74 years, and/or
- Adults aged 18 to 64 years with severe immunocompromise.
- Within the above groups, an additional 2023 COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be of most benefit for people who:
- Have no known history of SARS-CoV-2 infection (and therefore are unlikely to have protection from hybrid immunity),
- Have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or disability with significant or complex health needs, or
- Reside in a residential aged care facility.
ATAGI continues to encourage all adults who were recommended to have a COVID-19 vaccine dose in February 2023, and who have not yet had one, to receive a vaccine dose as soon as possible.
Queensland Health strongly recommends that employees in the age group 18 – 64 years with severe immunocompromise refer to the ATAGI clinical guidance to inform decision making regarding COVID-19 additional booster dose in view of the evidence around medical conditions and association with increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Queensland Health also strongly recommends that employees in the age group 75 years and greater follow the ATAGI recommendation regarding additional booster dose.
The table published by ATAGI expands the advice to assist understanding of COVID-19 vaccination.
Queensland Health recognises the Australian National Immunisation Handbook 10th edition as providing evidence-based advice to health professionals about the safe and effective use of vaccines and the public health benefits associated with vaccination. Queensland Health supports the use of the handbook by all healthcare workers. Queensland Health expects all healthcare workers to use the best available evidence in making practice decisions and providing information to the public about public health issues.
Applying a risk-benefit assessment (as recommended by ATAGI) to Queensland Health, QAS and HHS employees, whilst side effects and adverse events of COVID-19 vaccines have been reported, those risks are outweighed by the potential benefits from COVID-19 vaccination which may include preventable COVID-19 cases, preventable COVID-19 hospitalisations, preventable COVID-19 admission to Intensive Care Units, and preventable COVID-19 deaths.