Vaccination

With the new school year upon us, the need for eligible children and young people to get vaccinated is more important than ever.

It is the department’s position that all eligible children and young people (unless medically contraindicated) should receive the COVID-19 vaccination. For all eligible children and young people in care who are subject to the Chief Executive’s guardianship, consent is provided for their COVID-19 vaccinations.

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.

Booster vaccination

Young people aged 16 and over can now get a COVID-19 booster vaccination three months after their second dose.

Walk-ins are now available at Wayville, Playford, Noarlunga, Kilkenny, Enfield, Adelaide (Myer Centre), North Adelaide (Women’s and Children Hospital), Port Augusta and Whyalla.

You can also book online through SA Health.

Vaccine clinics

Thank you to the carers who attended our recent pop-up vaccination clinic at the Hindmarsh DCP Office. More than 100 children, young people and carers were vaccinated at this clinic, with vaccines administered by Welland Chemist King.

We are hoping to hold similar clinics at other DCP offices and will keep you posted as details are confirmed.

For a full list of clinics, including mobile vaccine clinics, visit SA Health’s website.

Staff vaccination

A reminder that all DCP and support agency staff visiting carers and children are required to be fully vaccinated.

Home visits, family contact arrangements and reunification services and support will continue where it is safe and appropriate to do so. Staff will be screening each visit, as well as wearing masks and social distancing.

Resources for carers

SA Health has produced Frequently Asked Questions sheets for the COVID-19 Vaccine for children aged 5-11 years and young people aged 12 to 18 years. They have also produced a range of resources aimed at helping children understand how the vaccine helps to fight COVID-19.

Accessing Rapid Antigen Tests

The testing requirements for close contacts have recently changed.

If you are a close contact with COVID-19 symptoms, you must now get a PCR test for your initial and day 6 tests.

If you are a close contact but have no COVID-19 symptoms, you can get a PCR test, or you can still access free rapid antigen tests from RAT Collection Points across the state. You will now receive more free tests and be required to test on day 1, 3, 5 and 7 of your quarantine.

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms and test negative using a rapid antigen test, you should get a PCR test to confirm your negative result.

For more information, visitSA Health’s website.

COVID-19 vaccination certificates for children in care

For children under the age of 14 years, please speak to your caseworker to access a COVID-19 vaccination certificate through the child’s My Health Record.

If a young person is over the age of 14, they have the right (under Commonwealth law) to manage their own My Health Record. Please speak to your caseworker about setting up the young person’s My Gov account to access their COVID-19 vaccination certificate.