Peak business and aged bodies support compulsory COVID shots for workers

COVID vaccines are becoming a sticking point for employers as pressure mounts for a mandatory uptake from high-risk staff.

A woman receives an injection of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the UK. Picture: Getty

COVID vaccinations should be mandatory for all Victorian workers at high risk of getting or giving the deadly virus, according to one of the state’s peak business bodies.

Compulsory jabs are also supported by a major national aged care and disability organisation, while the Victorian government and councils have not ruled out the idea.

Aged and Disability Advocacy (ADA) Australia chief Geoff Rowe said, “Given the known devastating impacts of a COVID-19 outbreak I am, in principle, supportive of compulsory vaccination of workers at this point”, adding he would keep a close eye on overseas vaccine rollouts for any side effects.

And Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra said while his organisation was yet to develop a formal policy on the subject, he also supported the concept of compulsory vaccinations “for roles that pose a high risk”, such as those in the health, aged and disability care sectors.

Melbourne Airport chief Lyell Strambi said he would not push the vaccine on workers. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Both stressed the vaccine must be proved safe first.

However, many employers, including some in health care, Melbourne Airport, retailers and even leading science research organisations like the CSIRO are not in favour of a “no jab, no job” policy for their staff.

A “no jab, no job” policy would work like the Victorian “No Jab, No Play” legislation, which demands children attending childcares and kindergartens be vaccinated.

Queensland’s education minister, Grace Grace, recently said she would not rule out mandatory coronavirus vaccinations for that state’s school students, teachers and staff.

Melbourne Airport chief Lyell Strambi said he would not push the vaccine on workers, despite the fact they were at the frontline of international arrivals.

Hair dresser Billie Jean said she won’t rush to make it compulsory for her staff to get the vaccine. Picture: Jason Edwards

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.

“We won’t insist or mandate that our people are vaccinated against COVID,” he said.

In line with the federal government’s current position that COVID vaccinations will be “encouraged” but voluntary, many of the 40-plus employers and organisations contacted by the Herald Sun this month said their employees could be unvaccinated and remain at work.

However some, including the Victorian government, did not directly say whether they felt they “should” mandate COVID vaccinations or had considered the possibility.

Others, including vaccine manufacturer Pfizer, Melbourne University, WorkSafe, the NDIA, Victorian education and public transport departments, National Australia Bank and Commonwealth Bank, refused to comment.

The Department of Health and Human Services said it would be working with federal authorities on a vaccine rollout and had already started investigating training programs “to ensure we have trained health staff ready to administer a vaccine”.

Bellboy cafe owner Emilio Rogliano. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Emilio Rogliano, owner of Bellboy cafe in Brunswick East, said he would strongly encourage his team of 12 staff to get vaccinated when the jab became available, particularly if they still held reservations about coming into contact with diners or were at higher risk.

But Mr Rogliano said he would not discriminate against staff should they forgo the vaccine.

“People can choose to exercise the option not to take it,” he said.

“For my staff, I would say for them to take the vaccine if you are nervous.”

Mr Rogliano said he would consider maintaining measures such as social distancing and face masks for workers to ensure they felt protected.

Billie Jean Murphy, owner of a CBD salon Billie Jean Hair, said she wouldn’t be rushing to make vaccines compulsory for her staff, and didn’t foresee a ban on customers who were not vaccinated.

“There’s still so much uncertainty about the vaccine” Ms Murphy said.

“We always follow the health advice, but at this point I don’t see us making vaccines compulsory for our staff.”

TEACHERS KEEN FOR VACCINE

Victorian teachers want to be near the front of the queue to receive a coronavirus vaccine so that another school year is not compromised by outbreaks and school closures.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Australian Education Union is pushing for teachers to be prioritised for COVID-19 vaccinations, right behind aged care and health workers.

Victorian branch president Meredith Peace says she will listen to health experts about whether vaccinations should be compulsory for teachers.

Victorian students were forced to spend months learning from home this year during the state’s lockdowns.

But children are well down the list for the vaccine rollout — expected to begin by March — as testing is still required and they have largely avoided serious illness from the virus.

Australia is expected to follow Britain’s rollout plan, which starts with aged-care residents and carers, followed by those aged over 80 and frontline health and social workers.

Meredith Peace (red jacket) at the teachers' union launch of its national pre-election campaign in Melbourne. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Ms Peace said health workers and “medically vulnerable” Australians would “obviously need to be prioritised”.

“However, we would like to see teachers, principals, and support staff in early childhood, schools and TAFE prioritised as part of the broader group of essential workers to ensure staff are safe and the delivery of education ­programs is at less risk of interruption,” she told the Herald Sun.

“Ensuring all staff in education settings get the vaccine early on is important given the size of the education workforce and the risk of being exposed to the virus.

“This is one of the reasons we think education staff should be among the first, after aged-care and health workers, to receive the vaccine.”

Asked whether teachers would have priority, Health Minister Greg Hunt said the British model was “not dissimilar to what we are proposing”.

“We’re also looking at weaving within the different stages any critical service workers who are at risk of transmission,” Mr Hunt said.

Ms Peace said school closures during 2020 highlighted how it was “important we do everything we can to prevent this”. “While we haven’t seen much transmission within school communities, we’re still learning more about COVID-19,” she said.

“Even with low transmission, we still need to protect the health and wellbeing of our education staff in all education sectors. We don’t want to see another year as disrupted as 2020 and vaccinating education staff will help prevent disruption.”

Ms Peace said she expected a “great majority of teachers” would be willing to be vaccinated, and the union would “listen to health advice on whether compulsory vaccinations are to be considered”.