Reclaim the line protest: Nurses hit back on vaccine mandate in Coffs

Coffs Harbour MP hits back after hundreds rally against 'no jab, no work' policy, saying people should be listening to medical professionals over social media.

Several nurses who are facing unemployment after refusing to be vaccinated joined many others to protest the state government’s vaccine mandates.

More than 200 people, many dressed in white with their industry written on the back, converged on Coffs Harbour Jetty for a silent protest on Friday.

Nurse Athena McAllister said she had been stood down after the deadline for health workers to get the jab passed on September 30.

Ms McAllister said she found the situation “surreal” and did not come to the decision lightly.

Nurse Athena McAllister said she is facing having to leave a job she loves due to her stance on being vaccinated. Picture: Tim Jarrett

“I have been working through a pandemic … and all of a sudden it’s not OK to work because I don‘t have a vaccine – to me it sounds ludicrous,” she said.

“Nursing is my passion and I love what I do but I would feel wrong in myself if I don‘t stand up for what I believe in.”

On Thursday, Mid North Coast Local Health District chief executive Stewart Dowrick said he was anticipating 96 per cent of staff would be vaccinated by the deadline but that the figures were an “underestimate”.

He added that a “very small minority” indicated they didn’t want to get the jab.

“If staff choose to remain unvaccinated and vacate their role, then we will prioritise recruitment action to that vacancy,” he said.

Bellingen‘s Johanna Elton said she faced the “imminent threat” of losing her job after twelve years working at a school because of her decision not to be vaccinated.

Bellingen's Johanna Elton said if she decided to get vaccinated she would not tell her employer because it was more important to be "standing for freedom of choice". Picture: Tim Jarrett

All NSW school and preschool staff will have to be fully vaccinated by November 8.

She said the media often characterised the debate as being about pro or anti-vaccination, but the demonstration was about being “pro-choice”.

“I think for a long time I was in disbelief that this could actually come to this point,” she said.

“Everyone has the right, the different things to weigh up, (to decide) whether they take the vaccine or not.”

Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh said it was clear Covid-19 vaccines reduce transmission and severity of the virus and it was “entirely appropriate” that staff in healthcare and education are vaccinated.

Mr Singh said the number of health professionals refusing the vaccine was “minute” and as an employer the government had to choose between the safety of patients and students over the choice made by those individuals.

More than 200 people converged on Coffs Harbour Jetty to protest the NSW government's vaccine mandate. Many wore white T-shirts with their profession and length of service on the back. Picture: Tim Jarrett

“People who work in the healthcare sector also need to be protecting the health of the people in hospital, they have underlying health issues and are the people who are most at risk from death or serious illness form Covid-19,” he said.

“Vaccines have saved more lives than any medical advancement in the history of humankind and it is disappointing that people are being brainwashed by social media instead of listening to medical professionals.”

The protest struck a different tone to that of earlier in the year when a number of strange conspiracy theories were aired - many of which have infiltrated anti-vax and anti-lockdown movements across the country.

Nurses Petra Quante and Carol Davis came to the protest from Grafton to "stand in solidarity" with those who opposed the vaccine mandate. Picture: Tim Jarrett

There has also been a number of flyers containing vaccine misinformation being distributed across the Coffs Coast and Clarence Valley, including one incident allegedly involving person delivering census papers.

However, Ms Elton said it was clear from the turnout that the movement was not being driven by conspiracy theorists, but by educated people who were “pro-choice” and wanted to make an informed decision.

“I am not pro-vax, I am not anti-vax – I am sitting on the fence and I want to make a decision once this rolls out.”