18 February 2022
Dear family member/resident representative,
You may be aware that two COVID vaccinations have been approved by Australia’s Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and they will soon be made available across the country, with priority given to residential aged care residents and staff.
The Pfizer vaccination and the Astra/Zeneca vaccinations have been subject to thorough testing for safety before being approved for use in Australia including careful analysis of clinical trial data, ingredients, chemistry, manufacturing and other factors.
Federal Government initiative
The roll out of the vaccination program is being coordinated by the Federal Government with the Pfizer vaccination the first to be delivered to a number of aged care centres in all states.
Trained government health officials will visit your loved one’s aged care centre with dates and times allocated according to the Federal Government’s schedule. As we are unable to influence the dates and times allocated we may not receive much notice and we will all need to be prepared for their visit.
How can you help?
The vaccination is not compulsory, and in order to receive it signed consent must be provided. The Federal Government has developed a consent form, available here, which must be completed, signed and presented before a resident can receive their first injection.
If you are an authorised decision maker or enduring guardian for your loved one, and you would like them to receive the vaccination, please download and complete the form, and return it to your loved one’s aged care centre as soon as possible. You could bring it with you if you are planning a visit in the coming days, or email it to us: woonona@irt.org.au
If you are not a decision maker I encourage you to forward this information to the person who is. If your loved one can make the choice for themselves you may like to talk about it with them and if you’re not able to help them with the form our staff will be pleased to assist.
Forms will be available at the aged care centre and staff on hand to answer any questions. I would also encourage you to discuss any concerns you have about the vaccine with your family member’s health professional.
Alternatively, please take time to learn what you can about it and its potential side effects by visiting the Federal Government’s website – www.health.gov.au
If you are unable to download the consent form or would like to talk to someone at IRT about the vaccination process please call our Customer Contact Centre on
134 478.
Visiting arrangements
Appointments are no longer required for visits Monday to Friday between 10am and 5pm. Appointments are still necessary if you would like to visit outside of these hours or on weekends. The wearing of masks by visitors remains mandatory and the number of visitors permitted has not changed.
For further details please check here.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Yours sincerely,
Nia Briguglio
EGM – Aged Care Centres
