Dear colleagues,
A quick update from me today regarding a new dedicated hotline now in operation to support staff with mandatory vaccination processes, some clarity on a current Department of Health phone campaign that seeks to increase third dose uptake and a simplified option for staff that were vaccinated elsewhere to update their records.
Dedicated phone hotline to support staff with mandatory vaccination process
Staff experiencing issues with the mandatory vaccination process can phone our new dedicated hotline for assistance including: how to get evidence from Medicare Online; how to upload evidence (including medical exemptions or doses administered at non-Western Health sites); issues with the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and certificates; and any other challenges staff may have in meeting the requirements.
This hotline can be accessed over the coming days between 9am–5pm by phoning 8345 0945 (ext 50945).
Other key messages to share regarding mandatory vaccination include:
- Roving vaccination teams are at Sunshine Hospital and Footscray Hospital today
- Staff pop-up clinics are being run at Williamstown Hospital on Thursday from 9.30am-3.30pm, and Footscray Hospital (Mavis Mitchell Room) on Friday 11 February from 9am-3.30pm
- Advice on providing evidence of your third dose at a non-Western Health site can be found on the microsite
- If you have a medical exemption, please provide a copy of your COVID digital certificate to your manager who will forward a copy to your People and Culture Business Partner for recording.
Consent to access Australian Immunisation Register
For Western Health staff who have received their third dose at a non-Western Health vaccination centre, as an alternative to uploading their Immunisation History Statement from Medicare Online, staff may consent to Western Health accessing their Australian Immunisation Register record. Recent Victorian public health orders require healthcare employers such as Western Health to collect and record vaccination information in relation to employees.
Providing this consent confirms Western Health can legitimately access the staff member’s Australian Immunisation Register record to note the details of their COVID-19 vaccination status including their third dose, and update our records. To provide this consent, please email COVIDVaccination@wh.org.au outlining:
- your consent to Western Health accessing your immunisation record in the Australian Immunisation Register
- your name (as it appears on your pay slip) and your employee number.
Otherwise, you are able to continue to send your Immunisation History Statement from Medicare Online, together with your name (as it appears on their pay slip) and your employee number to COVIDVaccination@wh.org.au
Department of Health phone campaign to increase third dose uptake
We understand that the Victorian Department of Health has started a campaign where they are texting and phoning members of the public to encourage third dose uptake, using their own data from the COVID Vaccination Management System (CVMS).
We have received feedback that some colleagues thought this campaign was related to Western Health’s urging of staff to respond to mandatory vaccination requirements. I’d like to clarify that the two campaigns are unrelated and that Western Health has not, and would never, share confidential information with a third party (including the Department of Health).
Regards,
Shane Crowe
Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery