The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) has issued a Circular detailing the strategy for rolling out a national program of vaccinations to PS staff in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Circular 2021/01: COVID-19 vaccinations states that employees will receive access to the COVID-19 vaccination during the appropriate phase of the roll-out strategy.
“Each phase prioritises population groups depending upon an individual’s demographics or the characteristics of the work they perform,” the Circular says.
“For example, elderly Australians or those working in quarantine and border security will be offered a vaccination ahead of younger Australians or those not in high exposure risk roles.”
As a result, the APS would be vaccinated in line with the criteria for the Australian population.
The Circular states that a separate vaccination strategy was being developed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Defence.
“This will cover Australian Government employees and Defence personnel and their dependents who are currently deployed/posted, or are about to deploy or be posted, overseas,” it says.
While vaccination was voluntary, the Circular said it was strongly encouraged in Australia.
“Where the roll-out strategy provides vaccination for a particular workforce, it is up to individual Agencies to identify and support its relevant workforce to receive the vaccination,” the Circular says.
“Agencies should provide the greatest support possible to assist employees in receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.”
It said appropriate support measures could include providing certification that particular employees fitted a priority group because of their work; paid time to receive vaccinations, including reasonable travel time; and reasonable travel expenses, where significant travel was required to access a vaccination site.
The APSC’s full Circular can be accessed at this PS News link.