October 2021
Vaccination is a crucial part of the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of our auditors, particularly those with clinical registrations, will have a vital role in the COVID-19 vaccination programmes and in educating the public about the importance and safety of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure high participation rates.
Vaccination of our auditors and our office staff serves specific purposes, including:
o vaccination will provide our auditors and staff with a level of protection in relation to their own health if exposed to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 at work or elsewhere.
o Respecting and meeting the governmental mandate that front line healthcare and disability workers be vaccinated, thereby protecting the patients, residents, clients in these services.
o Our auditors and staff are members of the general community; vaccination will contribute to achieving the highest possible level of immunity across the community, contributing to broader societal safety.
The DAA Group strongly encourages all auditors and staff to have the full Covid-19 vaccination course as scheduled unless medically contraindicated.
It is entirely likely that the health and disability services we audit will require all suppliers to be fully vaccinated in order for them to be admitted into the service as a visitor or in our case as an auditor.
For this reason, the DAA Group will require auditors to confirm their vaccination status prior to being scheduled on any audits. At this stage, proof of vaccination does not need to be provided to the DAA Group, but will need to be shown to health and disability services that request it before the audit commences (for example, when you arrive on site).
While some people may have a conscientious objection to COVID-19 vaccination, all auditors and staff must comply with local employer, health service or health ministry policies, procedures and guidelines relating to COVID-19 vaccination.
Any promotion of anti-vaccination statements or health advice which contradicts the best available scientific evidence or seeks to actively undermine the national immunisation campaign (including via social media) is not supported by the DAA Group and may be in breach of our codes of conduct and subject to investigation and possible action.
The official site for the latest information on the novel coronavirus pandemic is https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
Training Resources - https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-resources-and-tools/covid-19-learning-modules
