Cairns Covid: Vaccine mandates dropped for settings like schools and aged care homes
Aged care homes, schools and families have reacted to the mandatory Covid vaccination requirements being scrapped in a number of facilities. FIND OUT MORE
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FAR North families kept apart by Covid mandates will soon be able to reunite after vaccination requirements for visitors in aged care settings were scrapped.
Visitors will no longer needed to be vaccinated in residential aged care, disability accommodation and corrective facilities from June 30.
Gordonvale’s Pyramid Residential Care Centre president Paul Gregory said the rules had caused heartbreak for some relatives.
“There’s been a couple of instances where it hurt really badly for some family members not being able to see their loved ones especially when they’re ill,” he said.
“I am happy the visitors will be able to have freer access to their families.”
Mr Gregory said the requirements being scrapped did leave him with some concerns.
“I am hopeful that the measures don’t lead to increased cases of Covid inside the facilities,” he said.
“My own personal feelings are – it’s a necessary step to recover, I do have concerns it will need to be closely monitored and we will have to keep up the testing and requirements.”
It was also announced high risk workers at schools, prisons, airports, childcare and kindergartens will no longer be required to be vaccinated from June 30.
Queensland Police Service said it was holding firm, with its mandate directions set to remain in place.
The latest change means hundreds of unvaccinated Queensland teachers have been ordered to return to the classroom for the first day of term.
On Friday, the Department of Education said there were 549 teachers and 660 non-teaching staff suspended for not being vaccinated. But no staff had been fired as a result of the mandate.
Department of Education director-general Michael De’Ath revealed in a letter to Education Queensland staff he would follow the health advice.
“Staff who were suspended from duty due to their vaccination status will receive correspondence from the department about their individual circumstances,” Mr De’Ath said. “Suspensions will remain in place until June 30, and staff will be required to return to duty from the first working day of term 3.”
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Cairns Catholic Education Services executive director Bill Dixon said: “During the many challenges of the pandemic, we have always followed Queensland Health advice, and as such the vaccine mandates will be lifted in line with that advice on June 30.”
Doreen Deede, from Edmonton, has a 12-year-old quadriplegic daughter Emma and welcomed the news.
“I agree with vaccinations but I am happy it’s going back to normal. I am happy for people to make their own choices,” she said.
“My daughter is fully vaccinated, I am triple vaxxed. Emma got it as soon as she was able to. But I also believe for others it is their choice and if they don’t want to do it they shouldn’t be forced.”
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Ms Deede said she understood if some aged care homes or facilities chose to only accept vaccinated visitors to protect the vulnerable.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said: “The public health directive mandating the Covid-19 vaccine for workers in healthcare, hospitals, aged care and disability care remains unchanged.”
Cairns GP Aileen Traves said she suspected the authorities had decided Covid vaccination levels were now sufficient for the latest change to the rules
“Interesting times, but staffing across many sectors is an issue so handing responsibility to employers as we learn to live with Covid does make sense in some ways,” she said.
“Interesting choices for aged care and the most vulnerable there – but I suspect they are hoping vaccination rates of staff and residents will be enough.”
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