03 May 2022
From 11.59pm on 13 May workers in ACT healthcare and education settings will no longer be subject to the current requirement to have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said that given the current situation in the ACT, the Chief Health Officer has advised it is now appropriate to remove these vaccination requirements.
“The requirement for workers in the healthcare and education sectors to be vaccinated against COVID‑19 has been an important part of the ACT’s COVID-19 outbreak response,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“However, the situation has evolved and our exceptionally high level of vaccination coverage across the eligible population has reduced the risk of outbreaks and adverse impacts on health outcomes.”
The following directions will be revoked with effect from 11:59pm on 13 May 2022:
- Public Health (ACT School or Early Childhood Education and Care Workers COVID-19 Vaccination) Emergency Direction 2022
- Public Health (Health Care and Support Workers COVID-19 Vaccination) Emergency Direction 2022
Employers in these settings will be able to implement their own COVID-19 vaccination policies, in the same way many workplaces have vaccine policies in place.
“Consistent with national advice, vaccination requirements for workers in aged and disability care settings will remain in place as the risk of outbreaks and severe illness among the people they care for is still high. The Chief Health Officer will continue to monitor the situation for these workers to ensure our public health directions remain proportionate,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
