Executive Director’s Update to Principals #113: COVID Update - 3 Nov 2021

God of the spoken and unspoken, may this separation
cause us to crave the joy of human closeness.
May our face-to-face on-screen meetings remind us that no-one is fully realised
in two dimensions.
May our careful, scheduled encounters that relay
only the necessary materials lead us to appreciate
the power of unplanned togetherness,
those conversations that drifted, the pauses that linger
for another round.
Amen.

~ The Corrymeela Community

COVID Update

Medical Exemptions: change to acceptable evidence

The Chief Health Officer (CHO) has updated the Mandatory Vaccination Directions to clarify the process around medical exemptions. 

Up to 12 November 2021 an acceptable certification of a medical exemption is:

1. a certificate issued by the person's medical practitioner that states that the person is unable to receive a dose, or a further dose, of a COVID-19 vaccine for one or more of the medical exemption reasons; OR
2. the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) medical exemption form (IM011) completed and signed by the person's medical practitioner which states that the person is unable to receive a dose, or a further dose, of a COVID-19 vaccine for one or more the medical exemption reasons.

After 12 November, only an AIR medical exemption form will be an acceptable certification.  

Importantly, if a person has already provided an exemption from their medical practitioner other than the AIR medical exemption form – such as a doctor's certificate or letter – they will need to return to their medical practitioner and obtain an AIR medical exemption form by 12 November 2021.

Failure to do so means that the person will not have a valid medical exemption after that date, and according to the Directions, will not be permitted on-site.

These changes should significantly reduce the uncertainty for schools when they receive medical certificates or letters that are unclear or purport to provide a medical exemption.

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