More vaccination hubs have been announced within Phase 1a in NSW that are now operating in North Parramatta, Newcastle, Islington and Baulkham Hills. The government is also providing in-reach for eligible residential disability accommodation located in declared hotspots that include Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong.
Disability workers can now access the vaccine at Commonwealth SONIC vaccine clinics in Campbelltown, Sydney CBD, Macquarie and Blacktown.
In addition to dedicated disability vaccination hubs, the following measures are in place:
· All NDIS participants aged 16 years and over and carers aged 16 years and over of NDIS participants of any age are eligible to receive the vaccine.
· A national support payment of $150 per participant for disability providers to assist NDIS supported independent living participants eligible within Phase 1a to attend offsite locations, including Commonwealth hubs, state clinics and GPs.
· The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) reinstated a measure, effective from June 26, to enable NDIS providers in declared Covid hotspot areas of NSW to directly claim the cost of PPE for disability support workers.
· The NDIA also reinstated and expanded a measure to allow eligible registered NDIS providers Australia-wide to seek participant approval to access NDIS participant plan funds to claim costs for PPE used for supports delivered in person by a worker due to higher-than-normal PPE requirements.
· The NDIA has continued to make available additional temporary support items (for deep cleaning, higher intensity staffing requirements, professional laundering) to assist participants living in supported independent living arrangements where additional supports are required.
· The NDIA maintains a Clinical First Responder capability that, as a last resort, can provide emergency intervention, clinical support and infection control should there be a Covid outbreak or positive infection in a NDIS residential disability accommodation setting.
For more information on where participants and carers can receive their vaccine, visit: www.health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines