Mandatory COVID-19 vaccine rule now in place for first WA frontline health workers
ABCWestern Australian health authorities say they are not bracing for any staff shortages as a result of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, which comes into force for frontline workers today. Key points: Mandatory vaccination takes effect for WA health workers The nursing union says it expects some members to leave However, no staff shortages are expected over the rule But the state's nursing union fears by the end of the year it could lose hundreds of members who were unhappy it was backing the state government's mandatory vaccination rule. The first dose rates for tier 1 staff at these health services on September 30 were: Child and Adolescent Health Service — 95% East Metropolitan Health Service — 95% North Metropolitan Health Service — 99.2% South Metropolitan Health Service — 93% PathWest — 97% Nursing union unapologetic for vaccine stance A handful of uniformed nurses and midwives recently took part in protests against mandatory vaccinations. WA COVID-19 snapshot Confirmed cases so far: 1,159,261 Active cases: 2,550 Cases in hospital: 163 Deaths: 658 Third dose, WA population aged 16+: 83.8 per cent Fourth dose, WA population aged 30+: 31.2 per cent Latest information from the WA Health Department Under the third stage, health care and support workers would need to have had at least one dose by December 1 and be fully vaccinated by the new year to access support service and health provider sites. Only one AMA member resigned over jab AMA WA President Dr Mark Duncan-Smith said he did not believe the health system would lose many staff over the mandatory vaccination rule.