Toowoomba hospital reveals vaccine mandate for staff, volunteers

Workers, students and volunteers at a Toowoomba hospital will need to have had at least one jab of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the month to be able to enter the campus.

St Vincent’s Private Hospital has introduced a vaccine mandate.

A Toowoomba hospital has introduced a Covid-19 vaccine mandate for all staff, workers and volunteers entering the campus grounds.

St Vincent’s Private Hospital in East Toowoomba said the new policy also applied to doctors, nurses, volunteers, contractors and supplies who were on-site.

Hospital CEO Kathryn McKeefry said anyone implicated needed to have had at least one jab by the end of this month.

“From 29 November 2021, anyone on-site in a work, study or volunteer capacity must be able to provide evidence showing they have a minimum of one Covid-19 vaccination dose,” she said.

“From February 28, 2022, you must ensure your staff are fully vaccinated.

“With the borders set to open in December we are preparing our hospital and staff for an increase in Covid-19 cases in our community.

“The extremely contagious nature of Covid-19 and its Delta variant have confirmed for us that this is the right policy for our services, our people, our patients, and the community which depends on us.”

The policy comes after Queensland Health mandated the Covid-19 vaccination for its own employees.

“As an organisation that bases its care on evidence, science, and best practice, we come to this consideration comfortable in the knowledge that this is the best way to protect our patients and staff for when Covid-19 arrives,” said Ms McKeefry.

As of November 1, 81 per cent of residents in the Toowoomba region have had at least one shot, with 66.2 per cent fully vaccinated.