Hundreds of SA Health staff to be banned for failing to get a coronavirus vaccination

The pressure on SA’s besieged health system is expected to worsen from next week when hundreds of unvaccinated SA Health workers are kicked off the job.

Hundreds of public hospital staff will be banned from work Monday because they have failed to get at least one vaccination against Covid-19.

The decision to not receive a first dose before the November 1 deadline is likely to increase pressure on South Australia’s besieged health system.

New legal directions come into force on Monday that compel most SA Health staff to have at least one coronavirus vaccination.

But new figures show about 5 per cent of SA’s 10 local health networks, which manage localised public hospital and community health services, have yet to do so.

This comes as authorities review mandatory laws after chiropractors and osteopaths were not forced to get a jab.

People entering the Wayville COVID-19 vaccination hub in Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Brenton Edwards

Federal vaccination rules – signed off by state and territory leaders at national cabinet earlier this month – compel anyone in public health settings to be inoculated.

Latest SA Health data, as of Friday, shows the state’s worst rates are at the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network, where almost one in five workers is unvaccinated.

The next worst is the Eyre and Far North area, where almost one in 10 staff have no jab, followed by the Riverland Mallee Coorong zone at almost 8 per cent.

The Northern Adelaide Health Network, which includes Lyell McEwin Hospital, has the best rate with 98.5 per cent of staff receiving at least one dose.

While precise staff data was unavailable, SA Health has more than 30,000 workers.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network boss Lesley Dwyer has backed a Royal College of General Practitioners statement that patients “will not receive a Covid-19 vaccine exemption based on anxiety over (jab) mandates”.

Central Adelaide, which includes Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth hospitals, has recorded 95 per cent of staff as having had a first dose and 90 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Other health networks, including those covering Flinders Medical Centre and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, have about 6-7 per cent of unvaccinated staff.

Officials expect the numbers to be even higher by Monday after a last-minute surge. No SA Health areas will allow unvaccinated staff, meaning they face workplace bans.

Frontline “red zone” workers already compelled to get a jab can no longer move from high-risk roles. At least 50 already have been forced into other jobs.

Encouraging staff to quickly get vaccinated, an SA Health spokeswoman downplayed staff shortage concerns after “extensive planning” to address any workplace issues.

“Contingency plans are in place to ensure safe and appropriate staffing levels are maintained at all times,” the spokeswoman said.

“We will continue to work directly with individual staff members to support them get vaccinated.”

Unvaccinated staff – excluding those with a medical exemption or endorsement from chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier – can access holiday or long-service leave.

Once entitlements are exhausted, they can apply for leave without pay but it is unclear if and when they will be sacked.

Staff at a second tranche of healthcare facilities – including dental clinics, private nurse offices, pharmacies, private pathology centres, defence health settings – must have one dose by November 8 but chiropractors and osteopaths are currently exempt.

An Australian Chiropractors Association spokesman did not respond to inquiries.

More than 4000 allied and scientific professionals are employed in the health system.

An SA Health spokeswoman said the healthcare worker vaccination direction “is currently being reviewed, including the listed practitioners”.