Woolworths, Coles, Qantas to offer workplace Covid-19 vaccinations

Major employers around the country have been given approval to set up vaccination programs, which could see 1.7m Aussies jabbed.

Aussies staff at some of the nation’s biggest employers, including Woolworths, Coles, Qantas and the big four banks, could receive their Covid-19 jabs at work as offices and warehouses are transformed into vaccination centres.

Back in July Lieutenant General John Frewen who is coordinating the vaccine rollout, said GPs, qualified nurses, and pharmacists could administer the vaccines in the workplace and now businesses have been given the go ahead.

Expected to launch in October, businesses will be required to source an accredited vaccine provider to deliver the jabs, with the government estimating up to 1.7 million Aussies could be vaccinated through the program.

Woolworths is one of the major employers expected to participate in the program. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Lieutenant Frewen said it would take the burden off both the primary healthcare system and some of the state mechanisms.

“Many of these industries already do anti-flu vaccinations,” he said back in July.

Other businesses expected to participate in the program include Lendlease, Virgin Australia, BHP and Rio Tinto.

Allowing major employers across Australia to vaccinate their staff was a “no-brainer”, according to the Business Council of Australia (BCA).

“A workplace rollout is convenient for workers, takes advantage of the systems many employers already have in place, and crucially, it expands access for all Australians by taking pressure off government sites and GPs as supply ramps up,” BCA chief executive officer Jennifer Westacott told the Australian Financial Review.

“Every person we get vaccinated brings Australians one shot closer to getting on with their lives, so employers are ready to help get people protected as soon as possible.”

Several Aussie companies have mandated vaccines for staff including fruit and vegetable giant SPC, Qantas and Virgin Australia.

Some Aussies workplaces have mandated vaccines. Picture: Jack Guez / AFP

Telsta is also considering a no jab, no job policy after it emailed its 8300 frontline staff about a proposal to make the Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for customer facing roles.

The telecommunications company had previously highlighted staff would be awarded $200 worth of points to retailers like Woolworths, Coles and Myers if they got double jabbed.

Meanwhile, Spotlight Group – which owns the popular craft chain as well as Anaconda, Mountain Designs and Harris Scarfe – told staff via internal email that they had to provide proof of their vaccinations to receive the end of year incentive. The decision could impact up to 8000 staff members.

Two thirds of businesses want vaccines mandatory for frontline retail staff. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Two-thirds of businesses believe Covid vaccines should be made mandatory for frontline retail staff, a recent survey revealed.

However, three-quarters would not be comfortable mandating the vaccine in the current environment while there were legal ambiguities, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) found.

Job advertisements around Australia are starting to make the coronavirus vaccination a requirement for applicants.

According to research released by data analytics firm Purpose Bureau, the number of employers outlining in job ads that vaccination was a necessity for new recruits has increased twelvefold since May.