Businesses to partner in vaccine rollout

17 September 2021

Businesses are now able to team up with vaccination providers to administer COVID-19 vaccines to staff at work in the next step of Australia’s vaccine rollout.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced on Tuesday (September 14) that vaccination providers will be able to seek accreditation to administer COVID-19 vaccines at workplaces – similar to how flu vaccines are administered – through a Request for Tender program that will kick-start Stage 3 of the National COVID Shield Campaign Plan.

The program will also accelerate a range of other vaccine delivery methods, including additional support to vaccinate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other priority groups, he said.

“With the potential to reach Australians at places they already go to every day, this program – the COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Partners Program – will make it even easier for people to get vaccinated, while recognising the eagerness of businesses to help,” he said.

Pfizer or Moderna will be the primary vaccinations administered through the workplace vaccination programs, however workplaces will be able to order AstraZeneca if required.

The Vaccine Administration Partners Program will establish a panel of accredited COVID-19 vaccination providers that can be accessed by government entities, businesses and other organisations to support vaccination priorities.

The Government will pay accredited COVID-19 vaccination providers on the panel a fixed price per vaccine dose.

Details of the tender include that immunisation providers “must have the capacity and capability to administer a minimum of 500 vaccines a week, unless the delivery model or location precludes the delivery of 500 vaccines a week”.

Businesses engaging COVID-19 immunisation providers from the panel will negotiate details of the arrangements directly with vaccination providers on the panel.

The tender for the program closes on September 24, 2021, with delivery slated for October.

For advice on vaccinations and the workplace contact CCIWA’s Workplace Relations team on 1300 422 492 or [email protected].

For general advice and guidance, contact CCIWA’s Employee Relations Advice Centre on (08) 9365 7660 or [email protected].