Victoria Police could introduce mandatory Covid vaccination policy
The state’s top cop has thrown his support behind introducing a mandatory vaccination policy for thousands of Victoria Police staff.
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Victoria Police employees could face a no jab-no job policy with chief commissioner Shane Patton flagging support for the idea.
Several police sources have told the Herald Sun they understand a mandatory vaccination policy for the force’s 21,000 employees could soon be implemented.
Chief Commissioner Patton said on Thursday he was considering introducing the edict.
“It’s my preliminary view at this stage that it’s probably an appropriate way to go,” he said.
“I don’t know whether it (means) no job. It’s certainly something we would work through, as we always do when whenever we’re faced with complex scenarios.
The Chief Commissioner said given the public engagement responsibilities of the force a mandatory vaccination policy made sense.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to be saying we should be vaccinated,” he said.
“That final determination hasn’t been made, but that’s where I’m heading towards.”
A Police Association Victoria spokesperson said the move would be supported.
“The Police Association recognises the importance of vaccination as a health and safety measure, particularly in a high-risk workforce,” he said.
“Indeed, the majority of our members have called for the prioritisation of vaccine to police. Should Victoria Police require the vaccination of our members, we would support that decision.”
Under current settings mandatory vaccination rules have been introduced for school staff, aged care services staff and construction workers.
Victorian unions have overwhelmingly rejected the idea of mandatory vaccinations, saying free choice for workers would guarantee high rates of uptake.
A Herald Sun survey of eight major unions this week found just two – the Victorian Ambulance Union and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation – supported compulsory jabs.
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