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Affected persons under the Vaccinations Order
The purpose of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 (Vaccinations Order) is to prevent, and limit the risk of, the outbreak or spread of COVID19 by requiring certain work to be carried out by affected persons who are vaccinated and have received a booster dose, if eligible. Affected persons are eligible for a booster dose with the Pfizer vaccine if they are aged 18 years or over and have completed their primary COVID-19 vaccination course at least 3 months ago. More information is available in the Booster Vaccination Policy Statement.
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The Vaccinations Order is a legally binding health instruction which requires certain groups of workers to be vaccinated and have received a booster dose in order to undertake ‘certain work’.
38.1 Workers subject to the
Amended Vaccinations Order
An affected person must not carry out certain work unless they are vaccinated and have received a booster dose or have been granted a COVID-19 vaccination exemption by the Director-General. The affected person who has been granted an exemption may continue working while unvaccinated for the duration of the exemption period. Employers must have a plan for each affected worker, to ensure both the work and those they are in contact with are safe. This includes planning for risk management, health protection, impact on service, and efforts to support the affected worker’s to be vaccinated. More information on ‘Temporary significant service disruption exemptions’ can be found on the Ministry’s website.
The Amended Vaccinations Order applies to:
• Health practitioners providing health services to patients in person • Workers who are employed or engaged by a general practice or a pharmacy and whose role involves being within 2 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 a certified provider and who, as part of their ordinary duties, come within 2 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
• Care and support workers
Note: Identification of these workers are managed through their employers and regulatory bodies who must notify each affected person.
Organisations who have undertaken a risk assessment may still require some of their workers to be vaccinated under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA).
New Zealand and Overseas based Air Crew are still required to be vaccinated (unless excused or exempt) under the Air Border order.
38.1.1 Booster doses
On 21 December 2021, it was announced that COVID-19 booster vaccinations would be mandated for workforces covered by the Vaccinations Order and this came into effect on 23 January 2022.
A booster dose means a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine specified in Schedule 4 of the Vaccinations Order administered in accordance with the requirements specified for that vaccine.
An affected person who has received their primary COVID-19 vaccination course may carry out certain work without receiving a booster dose if they are:
• under 18 years of age; or
• carry out certain work in settings where a My Vaccine Pass may be required (as specified in Part 10 of Schedule 2 in the Vaccinations Order).
It is the responsibility of the Health Districts to ensure access to timely vaccination appointments, including appointments for booster doses, are available to affected persons under the Vaccinations Order.
The transitional provisions for affected persons to be vaccinated and receive a booster dose are outlined in Schedule 1 of the Vaccinations Order.
38.1.3 Alternative vaccines
Schedule 3 of the Vaccinations Order details the COVID-19 vaccines, number of doses, and administrative requirements that affected persons can receive to be considered to have completed their primary COVID-19 vaccination course.
The COVID-19 vaccines available for booster doses are specified in Schedule 4 of the Vaccinations Order.
38.1.4 Further information
For further detail on the requirements contact IMAC on 0800 IMMUNE (466 863), option 1 (health professionals) and then option 2 (COVID-19 vaccinator support) and refer to Schedule 3 of the Vaccinations Order and the Ministry’s Immunisation Handbook.
