COVID Vaccine Update for RACHs

November 22, 2023

Residential aged care homes are responsible for ensuring residents have access to the recommended COVID-19 vaccine dose as soon as they are eligible, outlined below. 

If it has been six months since receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or confirmed COVID-19 infection, an additional dose: 

  • is recommended for people aged 75 or older 
  • should be considered for people aged 65 to 74 years and people aged 18 to 64 years with severe immunocompromise following discussion with their healthcare provider. 

Aged care residents who have not yet received any booster dose this year are advised to do so. The Department strongly recommends that individual residents get their vaccines as soon as they become eligible, and not waiting for a group of residents to be vaccinated together. 

Dose history is no longer relevant for the RACH vaccine program (EG 30 residents have had 4 doses, 20 have had 5 doses etc), but rather, how long the gap between a resident’s last dose to now has been. A resident is expected to be offered a booster dose as they become eligible 6 months after their last dose, or after 6 months since their last COVID infection. 

Older age continues to be the biggest risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease. COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of serious illness and death. 

Vaccines are still principally administered in residential aged care homes by primary care providers such as general practitioners and pharmacists. RACHs are strongly encouraged to contact the SEMPHN Aged Care team at agedcare@semphn.org.au or call 1300 331 981 for more information or for assistance with engaging with a primary care vaccine provider. 

For more COVID-19 resources, please visit our COVID-19 page or visit the Department of Health.

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