Vaccine mandate changes for some health and disability workers
The Ministry of Health advised of changes to the vaccine mandates for some health and disability sector workers.
The Government is amending the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 so that the workers who must be vaccinated against COVID-19 are those who face a higher risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19 in the workplace than in the wider community.
This means Government vaccine mandates for some health and disability sector workers are being removed.
From 11:59 pm on 7 July, workers who are not public facing in certain healthcare environments and/or do not provide healthcare services directly to patients, will no longer be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Who is still mandated?
Health practitioners dealing with patients in person, such as doctors, nurses and dentists will continue to be covered by the Vaccinations Order. The Order will also continue to cover workers in medical centres/GP practices and pharmacies (such as receptionists or assistants) whose role involves being within two metres or less of a health practitioner or a member of the public for a period of 15 minutes or more.
Workers who are employed or engaged by certified providers – which includes hospitals, rest homes, or residential disability care facilities - and who, as part of their ordinary duties, come within two metres or less of a health practitioner or a person to whom health care services are provided for a period of 15 minutes or more will continue to be covered by the Vaccinations Order.
Who is not mandated?
Workers who are not public facing in certain healthcare environments and/or do not provide healthcare services directly to patients, will no longer be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This includes back-office staff who, for example, do the accounts for a GP and groups like the police and firefighters who may be first responders in the course of their duties but providing health services is incidental to their core work.
What does this mean for delivery of oral health?
All oral health practitioners providing care in-person to patients, and those workers who support the practitioner with delivery of that care (i.e. those within two metres or less of a practitioner or a member of the public for a period of 15 minutes or more), must continue to meet the vaccination requirements as outlined in the vaccinations order.