The NSW Government has announced a huge change to its rules around vaccinations for healthcare workers. NSW has become the first state in Australia to mandate Covid-19 vaccines for healthcare workers, as its hospitals struggle with the Delta outbreak. All healthcare staff will need to have their first dose of a vaccine by September 30 and be fully vaccinated or at least have their second jab booked in by November 30, under a new public health order issued on Thursday. Staff who cannot provide evidence they have received their first dose to their employer by September deadline will be excluded from the workplace.
In a NSW Liberals statement published on Thursday evening, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the change would ease pressure on the health system. “More than 1200 healthcare workers have been in isolation each day over the past seven days and we cannot afford that right now,” he said. “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.” NSW confirmed a record 1029 locally acquired cases of the virus on Thursday.
Mr Hazzard indicated vaccines would be mandated for staff across the public and private healthcare sectors. “The public and private health systems have a responsibility to implement every possible measure to provide a safe work environment for their staff and most importantly, safe circumstances for their patients,” he said. Mr Hazzard said mandatory vaccinations for frontline health staff were already required in NSW for other contagious diseases including influenza, chickenpox, measles and whooping cough.
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