The Department of Health has announced that workers in primary and community health services are to be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to attend their workplace.
Chief Health Officer, Dr Andrew Robertson (pictured) said following mandated vaccinations for health care workers, the extension now covered an estimated 10,000 staff in private provider facilities, such as general practitioners, private nurse offices and consulting offices, pharmacies, dental centres, allied health facilities and private pathology centres.
“Transmission in the primary health and community health setting could have major consequences within the community,” Dr Robertson said.
“Health workers in community settings work closely with vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with chronic disease, or who are immunocompromised,” he said.
“These vulnerable groups are at high risk of serious complications from COVID-19 infection and include people who may not be able to be vaccinated.”
Dr Robertson said the public health measure provided for a nationally consistent approach following advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.
“From 1 November, primary and community health workers will need to have had at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to access their workplace,” he said.
“The deadline to be fully vaccinated will be 1 December.”
Minister for Health, Roger Cook said peak health bodies, including the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, strongly supported the vaccination of all health workers.
“These new directions will bring the primary and community health workers into line with other healthcare workers,” Mr Cook said.
