When Victoria’s vax mandate will be scrapped

The Andrews government is considering dumping the controversial jab mandate earlier than expected.

Protesters have vented their anger at the vaccine mandate. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Victoria’s controversial vaccine mandates could be scrapped within weeks.

The Herald Sun has confirmed the state government is actively considering scrapping the mandates in all but high-risk settings as early as January.

Daniel Andrews had previously flagged keeping the mandates in place until at least April, but possibly beyond.

But senior government sources said a series of high-profile incidents of staff being abused for enforcing the mandates had led to a shift in approach.

One city bookstore has been forced to hire private security guards after a series of attacks on staff.

In one incident, a worker was left unconscious after being pushed down a moving escalator after he asked a customer to produce his vaccination certificate.

“The high rate of vaccinations, the passing of the pandemic Bill which sidelines the chief health officer, and the high-profile incidents of violence have led to a change in thinking,” a source said.

“There will still be mandates in place in high-risk settings even after any change.”

It is understood the government will seek advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation regarding third-dose booster shots.

Concerns remain about the current slow uptake of booster vaccination rates.

“The big unknown is boosters and whether it will limit their uptake. That’s the sticking point,” a senior government source said.

“Already the uptake is slow. The chief health officer wants a booster mandate on top of the current mandate.”

There were violent demonstrations in the city in September following the announcement of the mandatory vaccine for the construction industry. Picture: Getty

Rules concerning retail customers changed on November 26, barring unvaccinated shoppers from entering non-essential stores despite previously being allowed in.

Workers across a range of industries and settings must also be able to show their full vaccination certificate or medical exemption in order to continue working.

The Premier said this week he hoped to remove the mandates “as quickly as we can”.

“But they’re based on health advice and we will continue to follow health advice,” he said.

“We want to get back to the settings as they had been foreshadowed and the changes that had been foreshadowed as quickly as possible.”

An opposition spokesman said the rationale for maintaining vaccine mandates was unclear given such a high rate of uptake in the community.

“We will continue to be guided by the National Plan for Covid-19 and we call on the Andrews government to follow these guidelines,” he said. “The plan states that as maximum levels of vaccinations are reached we need to live with Covid-19 and manage it in the same way we deal with influenza or other infectious diseases.”

More than 91 per cent of Victorians are now double vaxxed.