Vaccinations are a critical preventative measure for our medically screened AAP participants along with the availability of antivirals, reduce the risk of serious illness and mortality in the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP).
However, given our unique operating environment and limited medical and operational response capabilities, we acknowledge that our participants remain at higher risk of infectious illness and its impacts to their well-being, success and that of colleagues and the AAP.
Consequently, we all must take responsibility and adopt additional measures to mitigate and minimise the impact of infectious disease on AAD staff, AAP participants, our families and associated communities, and our work environment.
The AAD maintains a current AAP Infectious Disease Management Plan for each Antarctic season to minimise the number of infectious diseases within the AAP (including COVID-19, Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and other infectious agents) and the risk to other National Antarctic Programs (NAPs) by adopting reasonable and practicable control measures.
All AAP Participants and AAD personnel in close contact with AAP Participants are required to adhere to the AAP Infectious Disease Management Plan.
The AAD Polar Medicine Unit maintains a vaccination policy to meet current Australian recommendations and in addition address specific risks for the AAP. This policy is dynamic with changing vaccines, infectious disease and addresses priority projects, capabilities and AAP participation across stations Ships and Field Sites (e.g. Travel to Altitude, Deep Field and Internationally and with other programs).
Importantly occupational and public health risks including living in confined and extreme environment, blood and bodily fluid, food handling, sewage exposures and importantly Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza risks ( e.g. Birds and Seals exposure) require prevention by appropriate vaccination. Some of these vaccinations are strongly recommended and others are required prior to approval for AAP travel in order to protect yourself, protect others and ensure our duty of care to you and the AAP.
Your cooperation and early attention to reasonable and practicable measures including vaccination and safe behaviours, is critical to your success and the success of the AAP.
To manage the risk posed by infectious respiratory disease to expeditioners and the successful execution of the current AAP Season Plan, all AAP participants:
- Are strongly recommended to be up to date with vaccinations, or have had a medically documented infection, within 12 months of deployment as per Polar Medicine Unit(PMU) Vaccination Policy.
- Note some AAP participants, projects and roles at increased risk will be required to be up to date with vaccinations prior to Approval for Travel by the GM Operations. (Unless exempted by Chief Medical Officer advice to GM Ops/Head of Division)
- Take Self-Protection Measures for a minimum of 10 days prior to departure and 5 days post departure. Receive instruction regarding Self-Protection Measures from the Polar Medicine Unit.
- Complete an Infectious Disease Health Declaration one day prior to departure (PMU-SMS-Text with required reply), as an aid to Case Finding, diagnosis and to minimise the spread of infectious disease.
- Receive instruction regarding their responsibilities should they become ill, including specific mandatory requirements to prevent spread and ensure their rapid recovery.
- Complete a Medical fitness review. Approval for travel will only be granted when deemed medically fit for ongoing participation in the AAP
- Cooperate in the completion of mandatory Infectious Disease PCR testing in defined circumstances (e.g. 48 hours prior to Deep Field departure or symptomatic case finding).
- Visitors or Staff interacting with Ship’s crew and expeditioners, must complete a Daily Health Self-Check.
- Cooperate and adhere to such other infectious disease management measures as defined by the AAD.
This is summarised in the current AAP Infectious Disease Risk Mitigation Strategy.
Further information is availble from PMU via AAD website Contact Form.