Vaccination Compliance

We have found vaccination compliance to be one of the biggest pain points for everyone involved in the locum process.

How can we make it easier for both the doctor and the hospital? 

It seems that every state and territory in Australia have ever so slightly different requirements when it comes to vaccination compliance, however, there is a baseline that everyone needs. 

If you have already been working in Australia, chances are that you have everything we need. The issue we keep running into (which makes the hospitals very unhappy), is having the correct evidence to support it. 

Below is from the NSW Government

“ Vaccination Record Card for Health Care Workers and Students ”:

this table gives clear instructions of the vaccination or serology evidence needed at a base level to work.

Here at Blugibbon, we have incorporated this information into our registration pack.

We have found vaccination compliance to be one of the biggest pain points for everyone involved in the locum process.

NOTE: For NSW Health only - if you do not have evidence of all 3 Hep B doses, you will be required to complete a simple Hep B statutory declaration, which is to be certified by another doctor or nurse.

It is so very important to provide evidence to support the above. You might already have this in a box stuffed under your bed, but if not, you can take the vaccination card to your GP and get it officially certified.

Having all this sorted from the get-go will prevent us from asking you to do any last-minute serology or having to go digging through old paperwork you haven’t looked at in years. 

In addition to the above vaccinations, it is now a requirement for most hospitals across Australia for a doctor to have evidence of at least 3 doses of a COVID vaccine. These doses must all be specified on either your COVID vaccine certificate or Immunisation history record. 

(Please Note: a simple COVID vaccine certificate, such as a screenshot from the Medicare phone app that only has a green tick stating you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, is not considered to be sufficient evidence, as it does not list all the doses received).

It is also important to note that to work in NSW and Tasmania during “Flu season” (which usually lasts from May-September), it is mandatory for all locums to have evidence of a recent Flu shot.

To summarise, below is a list of all the minimum vaccination evidence needed to locum in Australia:

- COVID - need full vaccination evidence/certificate with each dose/date specified, including any booster doses. (Minimum 3 doses required).

- MMR - Measles & Mumps (2 doses + serology), Rubella (1 dose + serology).

- Varicella - either doses or serology. (Note: History of childhood illness is no longer acceptable evidence. However, if you are born before 1976 you are considered immune).

- DTPA / Boostrix - 1 dose within the last 10 years.

- TB - screening via serology, Mantoux reading, or chest X-ray. (Note: A scar check is considered insufficient for NSW).

- Hep B - 3 doses + serology. (Note: For NSW, if you do not have evidence of all 3 doses, then you must complete a Hep B stat dec).

- Hep A and MRSA swab - required for WA only.

- Recent Flu shot - required during “flu season” only for some hospitals if requested. (Usually only in NSW and Tasmania).

Images for reference