Based on the latest health advice, the State Government has today outlined an overarching mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy with a phased approach to a majority of occupations and workforces within Western Australia.
Mandates already in place include workers in industries considered the highest risk, including those interacting with people at an increased risk of being infected or vulnerable to COVID-19, or necessary to avoid catastrophic risk to the safety of the community.
The policy strengthens current mandates and covers the next groups of industries to be mandated, as well as a requirement for other critical workers to be vaccinated to be permitted to work in the event of a lockdown or similar restrictions.
The phased approach is proportionate and based on the public health risk.
Group 1: First dose by December 1, 2021 and fully vaccinated by December 31, 2021:
- Industries determined to have high transmission risk, or are a vulnerability risk or are necessary or critical to the safety of the community;
- A number of these industries have been announced previously and are currently in the process of implementation.
Group 2: First dose by December 31, 2021 and fully vaccinated by January 31, 2022:
- Industries and workforce deemed critical to ongoing delivery of business and the function of the community;
- Mandating requirement in place to ensure the continuity of key services and businesses in the event of expected community transmission.
Lockdown: Must be fully vaccinated to attend work during a lockdown or similar restrictions:
- These critical workers must be fully vaccinated to leave home to attend work, to decrease transmission risk and prevent impact on the delivery of services.
Groups 1 and 2 of industries represent approximately 60 per cent of Western Australia’s workforce. With the addition of the lockdown group, approximately 75 per cent of the WA workforce is accounted for.
Currently 73.6 per cent of WA’s eligible population have received at least one dose, with 55.2 per cent fully vaccinated. WA’s eligible population is 12 years and over.
For more information on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, visit https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-10/Mandatory-COVID-19-vaccinations-summary.pdf
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“Mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for more than half of WA’s workforce sets out a safe and clear framework for industries and workers, based on our expert health advice.
“This phased approach is safe and proportionate to the risk of COVID-19 in our community.
“WA needs to be prepared for community transmission – by mandating our essential and critical workforces we can maintain services, and businesses can continue to operate safely in the long term.
“It’s vital people can continue working should community transmission or a lockdown occur, so that delivery of critical services is not disrupted.
“WA’s vaccination rate continues to climb, but people should not wait until the eleventh hour.
“We’ll be undertaking close discussions with industries over the weeks ahead to ensure industries and workers understand the policy well ahead of the implementation phase.
“The time is now. I want to make it abundantly clear that everyone who is eligible should get the COVID-19 vaccine now as we all need to be prepared for the event of community transmission or a lockdown.
“Don’t wait for the deadly Delta variant to enter before you consider getting the vaccine. Get the COVID-19 vaccine now.”
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
“Unvaccinated workers in settings in where exposure is likely can cause tremendous harm.
“They are a risk to themselves, their colleagues and the community.
“The danger from Delta is very real.
“We simply cannot afford the hesitant or complacent infecting those workers who have already been vaccinated.
“We don’t want people getting COVID and we especially don’t want anyone experiencing the brutal lingering effect of long COVID.
“The message is clear – you need to act now.
“Don’t wait before it’s too late.
“What we have outlined today is clear, sensible and urgent.
“Over the coming weeks a range of industry roundtables will be held ahead of the implementation.”
