Why vaccine won’t be mandatory for Melbourne Airport staff
Melbourne Airport will house a COVID vaccine hub but its workers won’t be forced to get the jab, despite being at the frontline of international arrivals.
Victoria
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Melbourne Airport will not force its staff to have a COVID jab, despite the fact one of its international departure lounges has been transformed into a vaccination hub.
The airport has emerged as a key site for early rollouts of the coronavirus vaccination, when they started to be administered in Victoria, on Monday.
It’s understood about 300 airline flight crew, customs workers, cargo handlers and other airport workers will receive the jab each day at the new Tullamarine vaccination hub, run by Western Health.
But Melbourne Airport chief Lyell Strambi in December told the Herald Sun he would not push the vaccine on workers, despite the fact they were at the frontline of international arrivals.
While he believed there was “a strong case for aviation workers to have access to the vaccine as a priority behind frontline health care workers and vulnerable members of the community”, they would not be forced to have it, Mr Strambi said.
“We won’t insist or mandate that our people are vaccinated against COVID,” he said.
Other major employers including some in health care, retailers and even leading science research organisations like the CSIRO have also said they are not in favour of a “no jab, no job” policy for their staff.
However, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra has said he supports the concept of compulsory vaccinations “for roles that pose a high risk”, such as those in the health, aged and disability care sectors.
It has also been revealed Avalon Airport, near Geelong, will be the first in Australia to roll out fever-testing kiosks, using state-of-art testing to see if travellers could be sick.
It comes after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews last week flagged quarantine facilities could be built at both Avalon and Melbourne airports for international travellers, allowing them to live in cabins near the terminal, where health officials could visit them outdoors.
Here’s what industry bosses told the Herald Sun late last year, about their position on mandatory staff vaccines:
BANKING
ANZ:“We will look to offer vaccinations as we do with flu shots but it would be unlikely we would make such vaccinations mandatory.”
CBA: No comment
NAB: No comment
HEALTHCARE
Arcare Aged Care: No response
Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA Australia) chief Geoff Rowe: “Given the vulnerability of both cohorts and the known devastating impacts of a COVID outbreak, I am in principle supportive of compulsory vaccination of workers at this point.”
Australian Medical Association: “While the AMA has, on occasion, supported the linkage of vaccinations to the payment of Commonwealth benefits, this approach or any form of mandatory vaccination is not warranted in relation to COVID-19. Instead, extensive efforts should be made to foster trust in the community and encourage voluntary uptake of a COVID-19 vaccination. This is particularly important for reassuring the public about vaccine safety, recognising that some people may have concerns about the rapid development of potential COVID-19 vaccines compared to the traditional vaccination development timeline.”
Baker Institute: “The Institute has a vaccination and immunisation program which only recommends but does not mandate vaccination. We are also guided by state and national government guidance and policy.”
CSL (Oxford vaccine manufacturer): No response
Pfizer (vaccine manufacturer): No comment
St John of God Health Care: “We strongly support the development and rollout of a safe and efficacious COVID-19 vaccine … we will at the very least strongly encourage vaccination for St John of God Health Care employees, particularly our frontline health care workers who are at most at risk of contracting or spreading the virus … we have written to a number of jurisdictions’ chief health officers to ascertain where they are at with respect to immunisation policy. One key policy issue to be considered relates to limitations on where/what clinical settings unvaccinated employees can work as there will be some who choose not to be vaccinated and, for health reasons, some for whom vaccination is contraindicated.”
PUBLIC SERVICE
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt: “It is likely that people coming to Australia will either have to have the vaccine or undergo 14 days quarantine once the vaccine is internationally proven and available.
“The government’s position is that any COVID-19 vaccine will be free and voluntary for Australians. Vaccines will only be rolled out once strict safety and efficacy studies have been completed.
“The government will continue to consult and take medical advice regarding any additional requirements for those working with the highly vulnerable such as the elderly.”
City of Melbourne council: The City of Melbourne’s Pandemic Action Plan “identifies mass vaccination centres that could be used once a vaccine is developed against a pandemic virus”. “The City of Melbourne would have a responsibility in co-ordinating mass vaccination of members of the public and has identified a number of suitable vaccination sites such as Melbourne Town Hall. We are confident we are ready to respond appropriately if and when a vaccine is developed, including providing access to vaccinations for City of Melbourne staff.”
CSIRO: “The Australian Government has stated that a vaccine for COVID-19 will not be mandatory. As a Government agency, CSIRO will align with government policy.”
Federal Department of Health: “Australia has entered advanced purchasing agreements with four vaccine manufacturers: AstraZeneca, CSL, Pfizer and Novavax. Data on vaccine safety and efficacy is promising, leading to confidence of a successful vaccine being available in 2021. We’ve contracted for 134 million vaccines directly. The vaccine will go through Australia’s strict safety tests and while we will encourage people to take it, it will be voluntary.”
Municipal Association of Victoria interim president Cr Josh Gilligan: “The MAV follows the advice of the Department of Health and Human Services. When the time comes, we will continue to follow the Department’s advice on COVID vaccinations, compulsory or otherwise.”
Victorian Department of Education: No comment
Victorian Department of Health and Human Services: “We have started preparing for the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccination program, so that if a vaccine becomes available it can be administered to Victorians as quickly and safely as possible … We have begun investigating training programs that may be required to ensure we have ready trained health staff to administer a vaccine. Victoria has a strong history of rolling out quality vaccination programs and some of the highest vaccination rates in the country.”
Victorian Department of Transport: “We continue to work with the Department of Health and Human Services and public transport operators, and we’re following the latest health advice to protect our passengers and frontline workers.”
NDIS: No comment
WorkSafe: No comment
EDUCATION
Catholic Education Melbourne executive director Jim Miles: ‘The safety of students and staff is always our highest priority. Catholic Education Melbourne will continue to work closely with governments, and the Departments of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Education (DET), on best practice approaches to COVID-19 vaccination as further details emerge.”
Goodcare Early Learning: No response
Independent Schools Association: No comment
Monash University: No response
University of Melbourne: No comment
Swinburne University: “Swinburne is continuing to closely monitor the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and associated government guidelines and directives.”
RETAIL
Australian Retailers Association chief Paul Zahra: “A COVID vaccine will be a big boost for consumer and business confidence, particularly as the government stimulus is withdrawn. A vaccine will provide more confidence for governments to further relax restrictions, give consumers greater confidence, and have a flow on effect on spending and the overall economy … though it’s too early to predict what government or industry will elect to do once a vaccine is available, retailers have shown great leadership and commitment to COVID safety throughout the pandemic.”
David Jones: No response
Dick Smith: “If it (the COVID vaccine) gets a low take up I might consider making it mandatory but otherwise I’m really against mandated rules so I’d like it to be, initially, voluntary.
Gerry Harvey: “I’ll certainly be lining up to have one. I don’t know why some people refuse vaccinations, including against polio and measles, but some do and they have that right. We’re in a democracy, so if they don’t want it, they don’t have to have it.”
Myer: No response
Scentregroup (Westfield shopping centres): No comment
Shopping Centre Council of Australia executive director Angus Nardi: “Safety is our priority, and we will continue to work with governments on public health issues and be guided by their advice, approach and directives.”
Tina Reddrop, owner of 15 Victorian IGA, FoodWorks and Go to Grocer stores: “In line with our flu vaccination policy, we will offer to pay for the vaccination for all employees but are not in a position to make it mandatory.”
Woolworths: “We have encouraged and supported our team members to access flu vaccinations over many years. With the guidance of our Chief Medical Officer, we will take a similar approach to any government endorsed COVID-19 vaccinations once they become available to encourage widespread adoption among our team.”
TOURISM AND TRAVEL
Australian Hotels Association: No response
Qantas chief Alan Joyce: “It’s not unprecedented for yellow fever and polio into a number of countries … to need a vaccine passport — the little yellow books that the WHO issues. So I think our view is that this will probably be the case … I think the government is working through how its vaccines would be registered technically and how a digital passport and the digital requirements would be managed.”
Melbourne Airport chief Lyell Strambi: “We think there is a strong case for aviation workers to have access to the vaccine as a priority behind front line health care workers and vulnerable members of the community. However, we won’t insist or mandate that our people are vaccinated against COVID.”
Victorian Tourism Industry Council: No comment
MISCELLANEOUS
Origin Energy: “At this stage, Origin would not be looking to make the vaccination mandatory unless there is a business requirement or critical need (eg someone on business travel and needs to have vaccination to be allowed into country). However, consistent with the flu vac, we will promote and encourage our workforce to be vaccinated.”
Restaurant and Catering Australia chief Wes Lambert: “We don’t support anything that’s mandatory but we back the Prime Minister’s comments that strongly suggest a vaccine is part of the fight against COVID-19.”
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Paul Guerra: “Once approved by Australian health authorities, the Victorian Chamber would initially support mandatory vaccinations for roles that posed a high risk to protect vulnerable people.”
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