Barwon Health to lose staff due to mandatory vax direction
Barwon Health is expected to lose staff over a refusal to adhere to the vaccine mandate, as the region’s jab rollout hit a major new milestone.
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Barwon Health is expecting to lose a small number of staff members due to the state’s mandatory Covid vaccine directive.
Friday was a key deadline for many of Victoria’s authorised workers, including healthcare staff, under the Covid vaccination mandate.
Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver said to meet the requirements of the chief health officer’s directions, Barwon Health employees were required to provide either evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, a future vaccination booking, or a verified medical exemption.
“The Department of Health has provided all health services with guidance to implement the directions,” Ms Diver said.
“If our workers elect to remain unvaccinated, we will first meet with them to understand
their specific concerns, ahead of making any final employment decisions, in line with the directions.
“Barwon Health has made regular and ongoing communications to our workforce, providing the directions and explaining the employment impacts arising.”
According to the organisation’s 2019-20 annual report, with more than 7100 staff, it was the largest employer in Geelong.
Ms Diver said Barwon Health was pleased to report that almost all its workforce was fully vaccinated, with some yet to receive their second dose.
“As with any community, we expect a very small number of staff will elect to
remain unvaccinated,” Ms Diver said.
Ms Diver said vaccination against COVID-19 was an important step in protecting staff and patients at Barwon Health.
It comes as Barwon South West public health unit celebrated hitting a Covid vaccination milestone on Thursday, administering its 300,000th dose.
More than 200,000 of those have been given across Barwon Health sites including the hub at the former Ford factory site.
To make a booking at the Barwon Health’s community vaccination hub in Norlane call 1800 675 398 or book online https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/
Walk-ins are available for Moderna and AstraZeneca.
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