Hundreds of SA Health staff have been sacked over vaccine mandates amid ramping crisis

As hospitals struggle and ambulances ramp, SA Health has sacked hundreds of staff over vaccine mandates – and is sticking to the policy.

More than 230 SA Health staff have been sacked since October 2021 for refusing the Covid-19 vaccination and more remain “absent” due to noncompliance, with calls for the policy to be overturned.

The mandate persists despite staff shortages contributing to stress in emergency departments and record ambulance ramping.

Similar policies interstate have been lifted and Frank Pangallo MLC is demanding it be dropped immediately while Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn said: “Given the crisis in our health system at the moment we need as many frontline workers as possible and the government needs to investigate every possible avenue to increase that workforce.”

Health Minister Chris Picton has ordered a review.

A class action by around 170 people which lost a SA Employment Tribunal case over the policy has lodged an appeal and mediation is set down for next month.

In the class action, tribunal president Justice Dolphin last September found “the mandate within the policy is a lawful and reasonable direction.”

A pharmacist preparing a Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Justice Dolphin noted at that time there were an estimated 657 SA Health workers absent from their jobs due to noncompliance with the policy.

However SA Health says the majority of these workers now have been redeployed, resigned or did not have contracts renewed, while about 30 still absent face disciplinary action if not vaccinated when they return to work.

SA Health had a mandatory vaccination policy set in November 2022, following an emergency declaration at the onset of the pandemic.

Since then, 235 permanent SA Health employees have been terminated due to noncompliance, while about 400 staff previously on absences have been redeployed to other roles.

The Advertiser understands other SA Health workers who refused to be vaccinated have not had contracts renewed.

Department for Health and Wellbeing chief executive Dr Robyn Lawrence said the policy covered Covid-19 and other vaccines “to ensure we meet our obligations from an occupational health and safety perspective”.

Dr Robyn Lawrence, SA Health ceo

“Covid-19 vaccinations are safe, effective and offer the best possible protection against serious illness from Covid-19,” Dr Lawrence said.

“SA Health staff who have not complied with emergency declaration requirements or the policy are managed in accordance with those SA Health policies, including redeployment where appropriate or terminated following robust disciplinary processes.”

Mr Pangallo said the vaccine mandates for health staff must be scrapped immediately, saying: “Why is SA Health on a different planet than the eastern states that have already dumped it?

“It should have happened long ago, once the pandemic was declared officially over yet SA Health and SAPOL persisted with it, effectively curtailing the careers of many police officers and clinicians who should be back at work to help ease the ever worsening health crisis.

“People have a right to choose whether they get vaccinated or not and it should not impact on their jobs just because they do not trust the safety of the jab or what the so called experts have been telling us.”

Health Minister Chris Picton. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Health Minister Chris Picton said the government had asked for a review.

Acknowledging the policy had been lifted in some jurisdictions but still existed in New South Wales and Victoria, he said the government would “take the expert advice”.

“We see that for public health services, there are a number around the country that still have those provisions in place and we will wait to see the expert findings of that review,” he said.