Victorian teachers and childcare workers mandated to get Covid-19 vaccine
The Andrews government has moved to mandate vaccination for all teachers and childcare workers in Victoria, requiring them to be double-dosed by November 29.
The Andrews government has moved to mandate vaccination for all teachers and childcare workers in Victoria, requiring them to be double-dosed by November 29.
The Victorian branch of the teachers’ union has supported the move – unlike a coalition of building unions including the CFMEU, Electrical Trades Union, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and Plumbers Union that on Monday accused the government of a “heavy handed” approach to mandatory vaccination in their sector, which had “only served to drive many people towards the anti-vax movement”.
Amid ongoing violent protests featuring construction workers, critics of the government questioned the need to mandate vaccinations for construction industry workers ahead of those in the health sector.
Construction industry workers are required to have received at least a first vaccine dose or have an appointment by midnight on Friday, making them the only group other than aged-care workers for whom a vaccine mandate will apply as of Saturday.
While aged-care workers were given three months’ warning ahead of the mandate, construction workers received less than a fortnight’s notice.
Many are aged under 40 and have been eligible for Pfizer — recommended for their age group — for less than a month.
In contrast, vaccination will not be mandatory for health workers until October 15, despite them having been eligible since the rollout began in Victoria in February.
The government has attributed the timing to the advice of health authorities, saying the decision was based on relatively low vaccination rates in the construction sector, and the immediate epidemiological picture of more than 330 Covid cases being linked to building sites in recent weeks.
Asked on Wednesday whether the government’s handling of the health directions had contributed to anti-vaccination sentiment within the construction sector, Premier Daniel Andrews said: “No. That’s not what they’re communicating to me.”
Challenged over the fact that the unions’ statement had accused the government of driving workers “towards the anti-vax movement”, Mr Andrews said: “Well fine, you can put out as many statements as you like.
“At the end of the day, the government’s done what had to be done, with the support of construction unions, the very clear support.
“That’s the advice that I have.”
Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said it was “extraordinary” that vaccination for construction workers was mandated “but the protection of our most vulnerable in hospitals and healthcare settings hasn’t been prioritised.” The opposition supported the vaccine mandate for teachers and childcare workers.
All staff at schools and childcare centres will be required to have received at least their first dose of vaccine by October 18 or have one booked within one week.
From the start of term four, 51,000 air purifiers will be installed at all government and low-fee Catholic and independent schools as part of a $190m investment.
The announcement came as Victoria recorded 628 new Covid cases on Monday — the state’s highest daily caseload since its second wave peaked on August 4, 2020. Three deaths brought the state’s 2021 Covid death toll to 16, while there were 257 people in Victorian hospitals with coronavirus on Wednesday, including 58 in intensive care.
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