Calvary Health SA considers mandatory Covid staff vaccinations amid calls for all healthcare workers to be jabbed

The SA government must mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for all healthcare workers before borders re-open, says one of the nation’s largest health bodies.

The state government must mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for all healthcare workers before borders re-open and “tie down the tarp before the storm strikes”, warns one of the nation’s largest peak health bodies.

One of its SA members – Calvary Health SA – says it is considering mandatory Covid-19 staff vaccinations across its three hospitals, retirement homes and community services.

“We are currently consulting with our staff and relevant industrial bodies to introduce mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations for all staff,” said a Calvary Health SA spokeswoman.

In SA, health workers in “red zones” must be fully vaccinated and all residential aged care workers must be able to show evidence of a second vaccine dose or a booking to receive one.

Red zones include the airport and medi-hotels.

Catholic Health Australia (CHA), the peak advisory body for not-for-profit hospitals and aged care, said that’s not good enough. It wants the state government to follow other states and urgently mandate the vaccination of healthcare workers against Covid-19 before the nation hits the 80 per cent vaccination rate and borders re-open.

Calvary Health SA says it is considering mandatory Covid-19 staff vaccination. Picture: File

“The high transmissibility of the Delta variant makes South Australia’s hospitals extremely vulnerable and we need that vaccination rate as high as it can possibly go,” said CHA health policy director James Kemp.

“South Australia has been relatively fortunate to date in terms of Delta, but that’s all the more reason to tie down the tarp before the storm strikes.

“We need the SA Government to send a clear and unambiguous message: if you work in healthcare you must be vaccinated against Covid.

“The majority of staff working in the Catholic sector have been vaccinated, of course, but a government mandate would give a nudge to the few remaining staff who are unvaccinated.”

An SA Health spokeswoman said “strong and compelling” evidence suggested the vaccine not only reduced the severity of illness if infected but also reduced transmission.

She said red-zone health workers and aged care worker mandates in SA was adding a “layer of protection” to reduce the risk of Covid transmission to the vulnerable.

Under a staged road map, Victoria is expected to end its lockdown on October 26 when 70 per cent of the state’s eligible population is forecast to be double-vaccinated.

Some limited outdoor activities are expected to resume as early as next week and students can start to return to school from October 6.

The plan was announced on Sunday despite the state recording 507 new infections.

NSW recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic with 13 Covid-related deaths in those aged over 40. The state will today ease restrictions for residents in Covid hot spots.

New HQ for Covid busters

SA Pathology will get a new purpose-built headquarters near the CBD’s Health and Biomedical Precinct.

The new facility of at least 14,000sq m will feature state-of-the-art laboratories and be built by 2026. An tender notice is being released today for the project, which will consolidate of a range of existing pathology services.

SA Pathology clinical services director Tom Dodd said the new headquarters would bring together services to promote further ­innovation.

“The new central laboratory will provide the opportunity to enhance existing clinical and research partnerships and ultimately achieve a more responsive and efficient path­ology service,” he said.

Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said the service had saved lives in the pandemic with innovations such as rapid tests and drive-through clinics.