THE state government says it will train up to 1000 new vaccinators, helping first-year health students, retired nurses, and more join an expanded workforce to be deployed across state-run centres and boost Victoria’s vaccination efforts.
Millions of Victorians will become eligible for their third dose over the coming weeks, and a new pool of trained-up vaccinators will mean a broader workforce is available to prepare and administer COVID-19 vaccines, while also freeing up health professionals to return to their normal duties.
The expanded force will join nurse and pharmacist immunisers in state-run vaccination
clinics for up to six months and will be supervised by experienced clinicians.
“COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and effective – the best thing all Victorians can do to protect the health system and keep their families safe is get your third dose as soon as you’re eligible,” Acting Health Minister James Merlino said.
“With comprehensive training and supervision – we’re helping 1000 Victorians in relevant fields get the training they need to join our vaccination efforts.
“Millions of Victorians will soon be eligible for their third dose, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure the community can access a vaccine as quickly and as safely as possible.”
The new vaccinators will be operating in well-established public health service-run sites,
with robust processes in place to ensure the new workforce is appropriately trained, supervised and supported.
Known as Limited Scope COVID-19 Vaccinators, they will be required to successfully complete mandatory Commonwealth and Victorian COVID19 vaccination training – equivalent to training requirements for other emergency authorised COVID-19 vaccination workforces.
They will also complete a COVID-19 Clinical Skills and Competencies Assessment to ensure
they can perform their duties appropriately. But they will not be responsible for establishing patient consent and will be authorised to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to people over
the age of 18 years only.
The vaccinators will also be supported and supervised by a ‘supervising authorised
immuniser’ provided by health services, with relevant skills and experience in the technical
aspects of vaccination.
Over the next few months Victorians with appropriate knowledge, skills and experience will
be encouraged to join the COVID-19 vaccinator workforce as required.
Victorians with experience working in a health or community service setting, or who are enrolled in a health-related course, are desired – and they should regularly review local health service job advertisements and Department of Health jobs and careers websites.
Applications will opened on Monday. Victorians aged 18 years and older are eligible
to get their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine four months after their second dose.
If you got your second dose in September or earlier, book an appointment through your local GP or pharmacy, or visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine to book at a state-run clinic.
