COVID-19 vaccine

Under section 254 of the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2012, the Chief Health Officer has approved the following scheduled substance treatment protocols (SSTP) PDF (320.5 KB) which allow the administration of COVID-19 vaccines by nurses, midwives and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners (ATSIHP) without a prescription or doctors order.

COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for use in the Northern Territory

Core requirements included in the SSTP

Health practitioners must give the required dose only to the age range and patient groups authorised in the relevant SSTP. This can vary for each vaccine.

Nurses, midwives and ATSIHP must hold a current CPR certificate and administer the vaccine in the presence of another person who holds a first aid or basic life support certificate. This can include people not working at the service.

Practitioners must hold a current certificate of completion of a relevant HESA accredited vaccination course or another course approved by the Chief Health Officer.

The Commonwealth Government no-longer provides COVID-19 specific education modules. Practitioners should compete relevant Continued Professional Development education to ensure ongoing competency in using multi-dose vials as these are used often for COVID-19 vaccines in Australia.

For more information on the requirements of the SSTP and providing COVID-19 vaccines in the Northern Territory, contact Centre for Disease Control in 08 8922 8315 or immunisationprogram.ths@nt.gov.au.