New Program Allows for COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Workplace
The Federal Government has launched a program allowing accredited providers to administer COVID-19 vaccines at Australian workplaces.
Australian employers can now start organising COVID-19 vaccination regimes at their workplace, with the Federal Government launching its new vaccine administration partners program.
The Federal Government announced this week that vaccination providers will be able to seek accreditation to administer COVID-19 vaccines at workplaces – similar to the way flu vaccines are administered – through a Request for Tender program.
Pfizer or Moderna will be the primary vaccinations administered through the workplace vaccination programs, however, workplaces will be able to order AstraZeneca if required.
The program will also facilitate the acceleration of a range of other vaccine delivery methods, including additional support to vaccinate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other priority groups.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the opening of the tender process would add further momentum as the nation continues to ramp up its vaccination effort.
“With the potential to reach Australians at places they already go to every day, this program – the COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Partners Program – will make it even easier for people to get vaccinated, while recognising the eagerness of businesses to help,” Hunt said in a statement.
“It will allow Australia to further increase the overall size of the COVID-19 vaccination workforce, and to use the many offers of assistance from vaccination administrators and Australia’s business community.”
“The Vaccine Administration Partners Program will establish a panel of accredited COVID-19 vaccination providers that can be accessed by government entities, businesses and other organisations to support vaccination priorities.”
The Federal Government says it will pay accredited COVID-19 vaccination providers on the panel a fixed price per vaccine dose
Businesses engaging COVID-19 immunisation providers from the panel will negotiate details of the arrangements directly with vaccination providers on the panel.
As with the broader vaccine rollout, businesses cannot seek any payment from patients for the administration of the vaccine.
More information can be found on AusTender.
