Confusion surrounds vaccine requirements of Victorian workers

Thousands of retail and hospitality workers are scratching their heads over the vaccination mandate with health officials yet to answer this key question.

Health officials have been unable to say whether unvaccinated Victorians in public-facing jobs will be able to return to work when pubs, cafes and shops open this month, despite patrons needing to be vaccinated.

Confusion surrounds the vaccine requirements of workers in the month between the first stage of Melbourne’s reopening and the deadline for the state government’s mandate for authorised workers.

Once 70 per cent of Victoria’s adult population is fully vaccinated – tipped to be as early as October 21 – Melbourne retailers, hospitality venues and hairdressers will be permitted to reopen to fully vaccinated customers.

But the government’s mandate requiring 1.2 million authorised workers to be double dosed doesn’t kick in until November 26. The confusion is compounded by the fact the mandate extends to retail workers and those working to process click and collect orders, but does not explicitly include clothing store attendants or hairdressers.

Hairdressers will be permitted to reopen to fully vaccinated customers. Picture: Alex Coppel

The Department of Health was unable to provide clear advice when asked to clarify the rules. “Public health teams are currently working on how to best ensure staff and patrons are as protected as possible as we move to different phases in the roadmap, and will have more to say soon,” a spokesman said.

The Herald Sun believes the government will soon confirm that all staff working in venues, such as restaurants, will need to be vaccinated as per the roadmap.

Australian Industry Group Victorian head Tim Piper acknowledged the confusion but said the edicts had been made “on the run”.

“It seems highly likely that some customers will need to be double vaccinated while the person serving them will be potentially single vaccinated or even unvaccinated,” Mr Piper said.

“The government is working on the run and as a result not every issue will be properly considered. We have to give them room to move.”

The government’s mandate requires 1.2 million authorised workers to be double dosed by November 26. Picture: Rob Leeson

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said many employers were looking for guidance and advice.

“The public health orders provide the business community some certainty but it is a complex issue that is still being digested,” he said.

Former World Health Organisation epidemiologist Professor Adrian Esterman said it was a risk to open the economy up with partially vaccinated, or unvaccinated, workers.

“I can’t understand why they would have that month-long discrepancy (between the roadmap and mandate). To me, that makes no sense whatsoever,” he said.

Prof Esterman said the only silver lining was that fully vaccinated customers were a lower risk to waiters.