PSA welcomes mandatory vaccination of Victorian health workers

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) welcomes the Victorian Government’s decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for the state’s frontline health workers.

 

Last night, Victoria’s Acting Chief Health Officer signed public health orders requiring all people who work in a health care setting to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The order applies to community pharmacy, hospitals, general practice and more.

 

From 15 October, in order to enter these worksites, a worker must have received their first dose of the vaccine by 15 October and 15 December for dose two.

 

PSA Victorian Branch President, John Jackson, applauded the move.

 

“As the state navigates its way out of its sixth lockdown and grapples a safe reopening, this is a step in the right direction. It protects health care workers. It protects patients. It further reduces the risk of further transmission through high-risk primary care settings.

 

“All health care workers and the community should be able to have confidence that everyone working to support health has heeded the health advice. That is, being vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, and their patients.

 

“We also acknowledge the small cohort of health workers who have genuine medical contraindication to vaccination and welcome provisions to support people who have rare, but genuine, contraindications to vaccination,” Mr Jackson said.

 

PSA calls on all state and territory governments to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all health workers – including those working in primary care such as community pharmacies.

 

 

 

Media contact: PSA media 0424 777 463