Obtaining informed
consent
Prior to administering the vaccination, the registered health professional must obtain
informed consent, per the
Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (the
Code). The steps to recording the outcome of the informed consent question is:
• The vaccinator or an administrative support person must record in the AIR vaccinator
portal or PMS the consumer’s consent to approve or decline administration of vaccine.
• The Programme assumes verbal consent is agreeable in most situations.
• Written consent can be considered in the fol owing situations below:
the
a. where there are significant risk of adverse effects to the consumer, per
clause
1982
7(6c) of the Code
b. if it is being prescribed. For more information, please refer to the below
‘Prescription’ section.
Act
c. if this is the provider’s or vaccinator’s preference, for example, in aged residential
care settings.
under
• Where written consent is recorded under points a. b. and/or c. above, the provider is
responsible for ensuring the forms are archived as a part of the consumer’s clinical
record.
• Please always use the most up to date consent form.
Where a consumer is not competent to make an informed choice and give consent for
their vaccine, someone who has the legal right can make decisions on the consumer’s
behalf; namely a legal guardian or someone who currently holds Enduring Power of
Attorney for personal care and welfare.
See
Appendix H which displays the process for consumers requiring support to consent
Released
Information
to the COVID-19 Vaccination. . For more information regarding obtaining informed
consent, see the
Immunisation Handbook, chapter 2.
For more information regarding supported decision making, or to access the training
module specific to COVID-19 Vaccine Supported Decision Making, see IMAC Learning
Courses at
IMAC Learning.
Obtaining written consent for the Nuvaxovid vaccine
Official
The Programme requires written consent to be obtained before administering the
Nuvaxovid vaccine as a second primary dose after a non-Nuvaxovid vaccination.
Informed consent for consumers aged 12 to 15
years
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Under the code of rights, every consumer, including a child, has the right to the
information they need to make an informed choice or to give informed consent.
Therefore, a young person aged 12-15 years can provide their own informed consent or
refusal to consent if they are deemed competent to give consent, and a parent or
guardian does not need to provide consent or be present. Some of these young people
may choose to have their parent or guardian consent on their behalf and that is fine.
Verbal or written consent for consumers aged 12 to 15 years
Informed consent for consumers aged 12-15 years can be verbal, however, written
consent can be obtained if it is the provider’s or vaccinator’s preference.
Out of scope
under the
Released
Official Information Act 1982
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