Covid-19: Queensland announces jab mandate for schools, airports, prisons

A new vaccine mandate for teachers and students has been announced as one state readies to bring its rules in line with most other jurisdictions.

“High risk” workers and teachers in Queensland will soon have to get a Covid-19 vaccine or face losing their jobs under new rules to be announced.

Queensland is set to bring itself into line with other states in mandating vaccines for its 100,000-plus education workforce, with new rules expected to go live before the start of the 2022 school year.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday also flagged mandatory vaccine rules for staff at prisons, youth detention centres and airports, while adding that the emergence of the omicron variant had not altered the state’s plans to open its borders to fully-vaccinated visitors on December 17.

BREAKING: Vaccinations will be mandated for people who work in schools, early childhood centres, correctional centres, youth detention facilities and airports. #covid19pic.twitter.com/Akq3S8VQIG

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) November 29, 2021

Teachers will need to be fully vaccinated by January 23 in time for school to go back.

“Today, I can announce that the chief health officer will be mandating vaccinations for people who work in designated high-risk settings,” Ms Palaszczuk told parliament.

“This includes mandatory vaccinations for school staff and workers in both state and private schools.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said teachers would need to be vaccinated by January 23. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Education Minister Grace Grace had already hinted on Monday that an announcement on schools was imminent.

Only Queensland and Tasmania are without enforced vaccinations for education sector staff.

Queensland’s school and early childhood workers were made a priority when the vaccine rollout began earlier this year, and while a large percentage is believed to have received a jab, exact numbers remain unclear.

Jabs are already mandatory for those working in Queensland police, aged care, public health and hospitality. Picture: Brendan Radke

Jabs are already mandatory for those working in Queensland police, aged care, public health and hospitality, while there are discussions for all public servants to be vaccinated as well.

No mandatory vaccine rules have been imposed on state politicians or their staff.

Ms Palaszczuk said despite the unpredictability of the virus - and the emergence of omicron - plans to allow quarantine-free interstate travel for fully vaccinated people had not been affected.

She said she will be attending a National Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to receive the most up-to-date information.

There were no new Covid cases in Queensland overnight. Two cases were recorded in quarantine.

A total 86.3 per cent of residents have had one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 76.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.