The deadline for the health and disability sector to have their vaccine booster under the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order has been extended.
Staff from this sector will now have until 11:59pm on Thursday, 24 February to receive their coronavirus vaccine booster.
The new date will also apply to any workers covered by the health mandated dates because of the work they undertake in Corrections, FENZ, Defence, Education and Police, the Ministry of Health said in a statement today.
While the amended COVID-19 Vaccination Order does not list specific types of practitioners that are included, it does include roles and physical settings that are covered. This includes:
- health practitioners
- workers who work in close proximity to health practitioners providing services to members of the public (for example, reception and administration staff in general practice, shop assistants in community pharmacies)
- workers employed or engaged by certified providers, which includes workers at a facility providing hospital care, rest home care, residential disability care or fertility services (for example, anyone working in a hospital setting such as laundry staff, orderly, administration staff, or rest home staff like kitchen and cleaning staff)
- care and support workers who are employed or engaged to carry out work that includes going to the home or place of resident of another person (including those living in the home or place of residence of a family member) to provide care and support services funded by the Ministry of Health, a DHB or ACC.
Further information can be found on the Ministry of Health’s website.
The Ministry said it was continuing to work closely with the health and disability sector to support the booster uptake.
