Vaccine mandate: Your questions answered

What does the vaccine mandate mean for you and your family? All your questions answered here.

What happens if you refuse to get vaccinated under the newly announced mandate?. Picture: David Crosling

Who is subjected to the vaccine mandate?

Any Victorian who is deemed an “authorised” worker and has been working onsite throughout lockdown must be vaccinated.

This includes a range of sectors including emergency service workers, politicians, journalists, workers carrying out electricity and gas services, lawyers, interpreters, some retail employees, pool and spa maintenance workers, freight service workers, and more, across both Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Detailed consultations between government and industry leaders and faith groups are ongoing.

When do I need to be vaccinated by?

Authorised workers will be required to have their first Covid-19 vaccine dose by Friday October 15 in order to continue working onsite, and will need to be fully vaccinated by November 26.

The October 15 deadline will not apply to workers who already have existing requirements under CHO directions – groups like construction, freight, healthcare, aged care and education will still have to comply with previous advice.

What will happen if I choose not to be vaccinated?

Premier Daniel Andrews said that people who refuse to get vaccinated will not be allowed to work onsite in future. “They won’t be going to work. It’s very simple,” he said.

Can I return to work unvaccinated when lockdown ends?

No, this is an ongoing mandate. These rules will remain in place even after lockdown ends and authorised worker permits are scrapped.

Are there any protections in place for businesses?

These are directions signed by the chief health officer. The Premier said: “It doesn’t matter who you are in Victoria, the Public Health and Wellbeing Act applies to you.”

How many people will be affected by this mandate?

Daniel Andrews said the new rule would cover about 1.25 million Victorians.

Will this lead to a shortage in essential workers - for example police?

Mr Andrews said he thought the vast majority of police would choose to get vaccinated.

“Ultimately, we’re going to do everything we can to get 100 per cent of our police force vaccinated ... Let’s just wait and see how many don’t,” he said.

Why is this being done given that 80 per cent of the population have received a first dose?

Mr Andrews said the vaccine mandate would help avoid Victoria’s hospital system becoming overwhelmed, and was “critically important to keep case numbers down”.

Do workers in country Victorian industries who work in the open air - like farmers and fishermen - need to be vaccinated?

Yes. Farming activities and other operations relating to agriculture, horticulture, irrigation, grains, dairy, livestock, commercial fishing and aquaculture are deemed part of the authroised workforce and will be required to get jabbed.

Originally published as Vaccine mandate: Your questions answered