Federal government ignores voluntary Covid vaccine pleas for aged care workers

The Morrison government ignored pleas from a peak body of healthcare workers against mandating the Covid vaccine, after a third of aged-care workers vowed to quit if forced to get the jab.

BlueCross Aged Care worker Isabelita Tassone receives the AstraZeneca vaccine at Sunshine Hospital. Picture: Ian Currie

The Morrison government ignored pleas from a peak body of healthcare workers against mandating the Covid vaccine, after a third of aged-care workers vowed to quit if forced to get the jab.

A survey in early June by the Australian Nursing Federation showed 62 per cent of aged-care workers in WA believed vaccination should remain voluntary.

And 31 per cent of 1000 members surveyed said they would walk off the job if it became mandatory.

“We know you are aware of the difficulties attracting and retaining staff in this area,” secretary Mark Olson wrote to the Prime Minister on June 17.

“We cannot afford to implement policies that would result in more staff exiting the sector. A loss of 31 per cent of staff would be nothing short of catastrophic for the aged-care sector.”

Mr Morrison said on Monday night national cabinet had agreed all residential aged-care workers would have to have at least their first vaccination by mid-September or be unable to work.

“People should be encouraged and supported to be vaccinated, not whacked with a big stick that you’re going to lose your job if you don’t,” Mr Olson told The Australian. “When you’re getting paid $21 an hour, the temptation to go do another job will be high.”

Only 16.3 per cent of employees currently in the sector have been fully vaccinated, according to the federal Health Department.

“Aged-care workers are part of the community – they go on Facebook, they read the news, and they have the same concerns about the safety of the vaccine the general public have,” United Workers Union Carolyn state secretary Smith said.

“The federal government has now mandated the vaccine, but has put absolutely no effort into doing any outreach or campaign to communicate its safety.”

The aged-care royal commission report, released in March, showed one in three people accessing aged care received substandard care – largely due to understaffing and poor training.

Ms Smith said the mandating of the vaccine could see workers leave their jobs and “plunge Australia into a care crisis”.

“There’s a public health issue with Covid vaccinations, but there will be a care quality issue if workers aren’t feeling supported in getting the vaccine,” she said.