CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman says staff travelling to community need to have Covid-19 vaccine from October

Charles Darwin University is tightening the reins on its Covid-19 measures in an attempt to help protect the Territory’s Aboriginal community.

ALL Charles Darwin Univer­sity staff who travel to and work on Aboriginal-controlled land will be required to have the Covid-19 jab from October 1.

CDU vice-chancellor Scott Bowman said due to the university’s location and ongoing work and relationships with Aboriginal communities, the decision was to safeguard public health.

“We are very concerned about the possible spread of Covid-19 into Aboriginal communities,” Professor Bowman said.

“If this virus does take hold and enters those communities, it would be catastrophic and devastating.

“If the infection did get there with the health conditions of many Aboriginal people, there would be really serious illness and also wiping out a generation of cultural knowledge. Anything we can do to reduce that risk, we need to do.”

He said all staff were being encouraged to get vaccinated.