It is the department’s position that all eligible children and young people (unless medically contraindicated) should have access to and receive the COVID-19 vaccination. As the guardian of children and young people in care, the department gives its consent for all children and young people under guardianship of the Chief Executive to be vaccinated if they are eligible for it.

Young people over the age of 16 years can make decisions about their own medical treatment. To help them make an informed choice about vaccinations, case workers and carers should ensure young people have access to age-appropriate information about being vaccinated and the benefits of a COVID-19 vaccination.

We would like to reassure carers that they can continue to take children and young people to healthcare settings as required. They are not included under the Emergency Management (COVID-19) (Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination No 3) Direction 2021, which limits who can attend these settings.

When presenting to a healthcare setting, it is important for foster and kinship carers to introduce themselves as a foster or kinship carer (not just carer) and present with an:

• Approved Carer Identification Card
• Long Term Guardianship (Specified Person) Identification Card (if relevant)
• Verification of Child in Care Card.

This will ensure foster and kinship carers are not mistaken as ‘volunteers’ or ‘allied health’ (i.e. paid carers) under the Direction and denied access if unvaccinated.  Please speak to your caseworker or support worker if you have any concerns.

Getting vaccinated is really easy. There are a range of providers across South Australia where you can get vaccinated – some require a booking and others are walk-in clinics. There are even mobile and pop up clinics available in many areas across the state. Visit SA Health’s COVID-19 Vaccinations page for more information about clinic locations and bookings.

SA Health has resources you may find useful in explaining the vaccine and its importance to young people, including a video with Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier doing a Q&A with school children.

Changes to the state’s borders may be making you feel anxious or worried and it’s so important to look after your mental health and wellbeing during this time.

If you need to talk to someone about how are you are feeling, please reach out to your caseworker or support worker in the first instance. There are also a range of COVID-19 mental health supports available on the SA Health website as well.