All healthcare staff in Victoria state mandated to get COVID-19 vaccination

New government orders mandate that all staff working in Victoria’s public and private hospitals as well as GPs and medical clinics must be fully vaccinated against the virus as part of the state government plan. 

St Vincent’s Hospital became the first public hospital in the state to make vaccination compulsory for all its staff, contractors and volunteers across its 16 public and private hospitals, including in Victoria’s state capital city of Melbourne. 

Victoria’s government has yet to officially reveal which workers will have to get vaccinated to keep their jobs, but the number of staff affected is expected to be in the thousands. 

In the neighbouring state of NSW, health workers have already been told they must be fully vaccinated or be scheduled for their second COVID-19 jab by November 30 to continue working in their current roles. 

About 20% of NSW Health staff are still unvaccinated, despite having priority access in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout since February. 

Health minister Brad Hazzard has called on healthcare staff to come forward and get jabbed to help ease pressure on the public health system, saying “Many health workers in NSW are already vaccinated, but if all of our staff are vaccinated, it will provide greater protection for patients, visitors and other health staff.”  

READ: Facebook group in Australia opposes job posts requiring jabs

Deputy premier James Merlino has urged all who are medically fit to get vaccinated, saying, “My view on vaccination is it’s our pathway through this pandemic and whether you’re a teacher, whether you’re an education support staff member or a student, get vaccinated,” according to The Herald Sun.