Unvaccinated paramedic Simon Knight speaks out after sacking

A paramedic, who’s been on the frontline of car crashes and medical emergencies, is devastated his refusal to get the Covid-19 vaccine has led to his sacking after 23 years in the job.

For 23 years, Maryborough’s Simon Knight has worked as a paramedic, a job he loves.

But his decision not to get vaccinated against Covid-19 has cost him his career after he was terminated from his role following months of uncertainty.

This is because in Queensland, while some unvaccinated public servants such as teachers and prison officers have been allowed to return to work, health workers must be fully vaccinated under State Government mandates.

Speaking to the Fraser Coast Chronicle Mr Knight said his sacking was like a “punch in the guts” and he felt like he had gone from “hero to zero”, cut off from the career he thought would see him through to retirement.

“I’ve never been fired from a job. I’ve always been a good, conscientious worker,” he said

“You feel like your 23 years is nothing.

“It’s the most stressful time in my life.”

For Mr Knight, the decision not to get vaccinated was a personal choice and he had tried to get an exemption on religious grounds but failed.

Advance Care Paramedics Kevin Brand and Simon Knight reunite with the baby they delivered in the back of their ambulance. Baby Logan, Lucinda, Robin and Calista Van Bael of Mungar. Picture: Valerie Horton

“I have a deep, strong faith in Christianity. There’s elements of the vaccine that I was really uncomfortable with in terms of where it sits with my faith.

“For me, every person should have a right to say what enters their body.

“I was uncomfortable with that vaccine.”

Mr Knight adhered to all required measures during the pandemic, including masks, gloves and other PPE.

“When it comes to comes to things entering your body, I think you should have a right, when it comes to your religious beliefs, your principles, whatever your value system is that you judge the world by, you should be able to say ‘no’.”

He was quick to say he supported anyone else’s choice to get vaccinated and he was not anti-vaccination, as he has been inoculated against other diseases.

“I never put my opinion on anyone else,” Mr Knight said.

For months, Mr Knight worked through the pandemic when there was no protection from any vaccine.

Maryborough ambulance station crew members and advance care paramedics Simon Knight and Lyle Oppermann. Picture: Valerie Horton

“I remember making the decision to go to work,” Mr Knight said.

“You think ‘should I just stay at home and hide away from this thing … this could cost me my life.”

But he wanted to do what he had done throughout his career – help others.

Now, after being treated like a hero for working through the pandemic, Mr Knight now feels like he had been pushed aside.

“That’s that hero to zero, that’s where that comes from,” he said.

From November 1 last year, Mr Knight was stood down from his job, an arbitrary line in the sand that meant he could no longer even attend the ambulance station or talk to his workmates.

“I felt like I just couldn’t even communicate to my old workmates,” he said.

That led to a sense of stress and isolation.

Over the years, having attended many car crashes, the scene of house fires, Mr Knight was no stranger to stress, but it was nothing compared to how he felt when he was stood down.

“I feel my resilience tanks are near empty,” he said.

His career has had many special moments, including helping to rescue children from a house fire and assisting with the birth of a baby in the back of an ambulance.

For now, Mr Knight is unsure what the future holds.

Maryborough's Simon Knight has lost his job as a paramedic because of the vaccine mandates.

He worked as a chaplain for about five weeks last year until mandates were brought into schools and since then he has been working part time as a pastor and children’s worker at the Powerhouse Community Centre.

Every day, he hopes “common sense will come” and the mandates will be lifted, as they have in other industries.

“They say the vaccine is safe and effective, 90 per cent of the population has it, everyone who wants it has it.

“If it’s safe and effective, trust that it’s working and the remaining 5-10 per cent is not going to make a huge difference.”

For others in the same situation, Mr Knight is urging them to contact him on [e-mail].

He has also started a Go Fund Me page people can contribute to, asking people to contribute $10 to “help out a mate”.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said as an employer, the department had the ability to stipulate employment conditions.

“It is still a condition of employment for eligible Queensland Health staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19,” she said.

“This is to ensure the safety of employees, patients, visitors and the wider community.

“Health jurisdictions across the world are facing significant workforce challenges and Queensland is no exception.

“It is often difficult for health services to fill clinical vacancies, but the issue has been exacerbated by COVID-19, which has restricted the ability of health professionals to travel for work.

Maryborough's Simon Knight has lost his job as a paramedic because of the vaccine mandates.

“Queensland Health will soon hold a Health Workforce Summit, which will discuss recruitment and involve our key partners, including Hospital and Health Services, peak medical bodies, universities, and unions.”

Queensland Health is unable to provide the number of staff who have retired or resigned due to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate, as there is no requirement for departing staff to detail their reasons for leaving the workforce.

As of September 9, 98 per cent of all Queensland Health, Hospital and Health Services and Queensland Ambulance Service staff required to be vaccinated have received primary doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Of the remaining staff who have not provided evidence of vaccination, 71 per cent were either accessing their own leave, or were casual staff not rostered to work.

There were 24 Queensland Health staff suspended with pay and 228 suspended without pay due to noncompliance with the vaccine mandates.