Union warns aged care mandatory vax could force Cairns closures

A breakaway nurses’ union has warned some Cairns aged care facilities face staff shortages – caused by unvaccinated nurses forced out of work – and could be forced to shut down.

A BREAKAWAY nurses’ union has warned some Cairns aged care facilities facing staff shortages – caused by unvaccinated nurses forced out of work – could be forced to shut down.

Aged care nurses must get a Covid vaccination by September 16 under a national mandate following shock news some Queensland aged care facilities had fewer than 10 per cent of their staff vaccinated against Covid-19.

Nurses Professional Association of Queensland (NPAQ) Secretary Aenghas Hopkinson-Pearson said modelling indicated Cairns facilities would be included in 40 centres across the state that would be unable to comply with the deadline and would be forced to close.

Aged care nurses must get a Covid vaccination by September 16 under a national mandate.

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“That means (statewide) 2730 displaced residents would need to be relocated by ambulance and 3121 nurses would be out of work,” he said.

At the last count Regis Redlynch, Kewarra Aged Care with a 70-79 per cent vax rate and

Caravonica Waters Infinite Aged Care with only 40-49 per cent of nurses having already received the jab were facilities at risk of closing, according to NPAQ.

“We are calling for an extension to (the deadline) … people need to think about what would they would prefer, loved ones being treated by an unvaccinated nurse or the lights going off,” he said.

However Pyramid Residential Care Centre chairman Paul Gregory said his facility in Gordonvale was “fully compliant”.

“We are at 98 per cent with at least one shot and 72 per cent that are fully vaccinated,” he said.

“We have not had anybody saying ‘no were not going to do it’.

“If it’s known to work and there are people vulnerable in our care then there is no option but to do it.”

Pyramid Residential Care Centre Chairman Paul Gregory at the Gordonvale Aged Care Facility. Picture: Stewart McLean

Leading Age Services Australia chief executive officer Sean Rooney said work continued with the federal Department of Health and the Vaccine Taskforce to ensure all staff have at least one vaccine dose by the September 17 deadline.

“LASA is advocating strongly with the department and the Taskforce to address members’ concerns including those regarding the potential issue of staff who might be unvaccinated by the vaccination deadline. We look to the government to ensure appropriate supports are in place,” he said.

“LASA will engage with providers at the state and territory level to identify barriers to vaccine uptake and help them get access to vaccinations for staff as quickly as possible.”

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Originally published as Union warns aged care mandatory vax could force Cairns closures