Union survey says nurses do not support mandatory COVID-19 vaccine

There are claims some Queensland nurses have been ‘named and shamed’ at work if they have not had a COVID-19 vaccination, with rising numbers hesitating to commit to the jab.

Rising numbers of Queensland nurses are opting out of the COVID-19 vaccine claiming the jab is “too experimental” and are worried their stance will impact their jobs and pay packets.

A survey of 1000 nurses from the Nurses Professional Association of Queensland found that almost three quarters did not agree with the vaccine being mandatory for frontline workers.

The Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union is reporting an increase in hesitancy from their members since the health advice that under 50s should not have the AstraZeneca jab due to the link with rare but serious blood clotting.

The NPAQ has vowed to stand by members if their jobs were impacted by conscientious objection to the COVID-19 vaccine and said it would take the cases to the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

Some Queensland nurses fear for their health if they get a COVID-19 vaccine, but fear for their jobs if they do not. Picture: Sergio Flores/Getty

But the QNMU’s policy states that any nurse who refuses the vaccine must take personal responsibility for the health risks and any job restrictions imposed on them.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has announced that all health staff working with COVID-19 positive patients must be fully vaccinated by May 10.

“These are not nurses who are anti-vax, they all have been happy to have their annual flu jab but they feel they are not prepared to go ahead with the COVID-19 vaccine as it stands,” state secretary of the NPAQ Aenghas Hopkinson-Pearson said.

“We have been approached by nurses who fear their personal choice will mean they will have their jobs downgraded with a pay cut and at worse lose their jobs.

“They have told us that they feel the vaccine is ‘too experimental’ and they are very worried about the clot problems. In our survey 73 per cent of nurses said they disagree with the jab being mandated.”

QNMU secretary Beth Mohle said she was aware of more hesitancy among nurses since the advice to under 50s against the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“We have policies in place to guide our members about these kind of personal choices on immunisation and the union’s stance,” she said.

She said the QNMU recognised that individuals had the right to make personal choices about immunisation but there may be professional and industrial consequences.

The policy does not apply to those who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons. Any nurse who publishes misleading and false advice on vaccines may be prosecuted by AHPRA.

“Our members reported a problem recently that two public hospitals posted on the wall lists of nursing staff with yellow highlighter showing those that had been vaccinated and those that had not. This ended up a name and shame exercise,” Mr Hopkinson-Pearson said.

“It is a touchy subject among health staff and it put people on the spot. Displaying vaccine status is not appropriate. As well as those who choose not to have the injection there are those who cannot due to health reasons.”

Queensland Health vehemently denies that any hospital posted vaccine lists on walls.

“We’ve seen how easily COVID-19 can be transmitted, which is why we are taking every precaution to protect our health workers,” a Queensland Health spokesman said.

“Clinical staff who work with COVID-19 patients who do not wish to be vaccinated will be offered temporary deployment to another work unit for the duration of the COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Requirements Direction.

“This is not just for their own safety — it will also protect patients, their loved ones, their colleagues and the broader community.”