The NDIA has issued a provider ‘newsflash’ with the latest information on the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, which commences from Monday, 22 February for people with disability in residential accommodation.

The Agency strongly recommends providers communicate across their organisations to ensure everyone is informed about the priority rollout and that conversations commence with people with disability or their substitute decision-makers about consent.

The Agency states that resources will be available soon for people with disability to support consent.

Links within the alert include:

• a dedicated DoH web page for people with disability.
• a collection of resources developed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to help health professionals, providers and people receiving the vaccination in providing informed consent.
• information on the COVID-19 vaccine.

A list of FAQs are provided that may assist your conversations with participants and staff.

Advice within the FAQs includes the fact that people with disability may choose not to have the vaccine and still choose to be supported only by staff who have been vaccinated. Yet, if a provider or support worker refuses to continue to provide supports to a participant because they have not received the COVID-19 vaccine, it could be a breach of the NDIS Code of Conduct.

NDS is seeking clarification on this issue.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your state or territory manager, Head of Policy  submit enquiry/feedback if you have any questions or concerns regarding the vaccination rollout.