Catholic Health Australia, the peak advisory body for not-for-profit hospitals, has welcomed the news that Western Australia will mandate COVID vaccinations for health care workers.
CHA, which is a national body, has been calling for the mandatory vaccination of the health workforce since mid-July.
NSW was the first to move and on 27 August issued a public health directive to its workers.
Catholic Health Australia Health Policy Director James Kemp said: “We welcome the news yet another state is moving on this key issue.
“We know vaccinating health care workers protects patients and each other against infection by COVID-19. That is why it is right to require any person working within a hospital or aged care setting to be vaccinated against COVID-19.”
“We are calling on other jurisdictions to now follow WA and NSW. Every day we delay is another day where patients are exposed to unnecessary risk. There is no reason why we shouldn’t be targeting double doses for all hospital workers by Christmas or sooner.
“Most hospital workers are already getting vaccinated. But for the minority who are hesitating for whatever reason, that hard push from the government will draw a line in the sand.”
