Master Builders Victoria has continued to take a lead on the building and construction industry COVID-19 Taskforce. Boosters were discussed at a recent Taskforce meeting and the following advice has been provided from the Department of Health...

About COVID-19 vaccine booster doses

COVID-19 booster doses are available to anyone aged 18 and over who had their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine more than six months ago.

A COVID-19 booster dose helps prevent waning immunity (loss of protection) against COVID-19.

A booster dose increases your protection against:

  • Infection with the virus that causes COVID-19
  • Severe disease
  • Dying from COVID-19.

You are eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose if you are 18 years and older, and had your second dose of your primary dose course of COVID-19 vaccination at least six months ago.

ATAGI is not currently recommending booster doses for:

  • People aged 12 to 17 years
  • People who are severely immunocompromised and have already had a third dose.

Boster doses are different from third primary doses, which are given to those who are immuno suppressed.

When to get a booster

You can book a booster dose if it has been six months or longer since your second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

The date you had your second dose of vaccine is on your COVID-19 digital certificate.

How to get a booster vaccine

You can get a COVID-19 booster dose from a Victorian vaccination centre, a GP or a participating pharmacist.

Call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 to book a booster dose appointment. Read more on how to book your vaccine appointment for a booster dose, including information on walk-in options.

Type of vaccine

Most people will receive the Pfizer vaccine as their booster dose.

You can safely get this Pfizer booster dose regardless of which COVID-19 vaccine you received for your initial doses.

The Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) vaccine can be used as a booster dose if you:

  • Can’t have an mRNA vaccine for medical reasons
  • Had two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine previously.
  • Read the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advice on the type of vaccine recommended for booster doses.
  • If you’re not sure which booster dose you’re eligible for, talk to your GP.
  • Common, mild side effects following a booster dose are similar to the side effects following the first two doses.
  • See information about the Pfizer vaccine and rare side effects.

Proof of vaccination

Your vaccination certificate is updated when you receive each dose of vaccine

This includes a third dose if you are severely immunocompromised, or your booster dose. Booster doses will also appear on your Australian Immunisation Record.

Industries required to be vaccinated against COVID-19

Although you do not have to get a booster dose, everyone is encouraged to get a booster dose to help prevent waning immunity (loss of protection) against COVID-19.

Currently booster doses or third doses are not required to be disclosed to employers in industries where vaccination against COVID-19 is mandatory.

For easy reference, the Victorian Government has prepared a COVID-19 vaccine booster factsheet. To view or download, click here.

Temperature testing

Members are to be advised that the Department of Health has issued guidance on Temperature Testing as a measure to minimise COVID-19 risk at the workplace. Please note that the Department does not recommend temperature testing for workplaces that are NOT high risk (in a COVID-19 sense), which includes the building and construction industry.

It is important that temperature testing is not used as a replacement for important public health measures such as if physically distancing, staying home if unwell, wearing face masks where required, etc. However, employers can choose to use temperature testing as an additional measure and a reminder to monitor for symptoms. There are also some concerns regarding the level of operator training and operational reliability involved with temperature testing.

Some employers have opted to install automatic temperature testing stations as part of a comprehensive site entry process which may include the health screening questions and QR Code check-ins. In these circumstances, it would seem appropriate to maintain those systems - however, that is the choice of each individual employer.

Accordingly, Revision 16 of the Industry COVID-19 Guidelines will be amended in section 3.18 to remove the mandatory use of temperature testing in large scale construction.

MBV would like to remind our members to please stay vigilant regarding potential positive COVID-19 cases and to maintain measures for keeping worksites COVID safe.

For further information and guidance, please call the MBV Assist team (03) 9411 4555.