news, act-politics, vaccines, mandatory, andrew barr
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says there could be merit in requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for entry into certain high-risk settings. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday said people who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine could be banned from government facilities, while businesses could refuse them entry. Mr Barr said the government is “not at this point” looking to take a similar stance, with much of the discussion pending on whether a vaccine can effectively stop the spread of the virus. “We’ve had some discussions at national cabinet level around certain occupations that it would be a prerequisite,” he said. “As to whether it extends to outside of particular high-risk professions or particular high-risk circumstances, it is something that would need to be given a great deal of consideration.” Mr Barr said it would be “odd” to mandate vaccinations that do not prevent the transmission of the virus. “In my mind it is something that would depend a little on the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing the spread of the virus, as opposed to just protecting against the disease,” he said. “If the idea is that being vaccinated … you’re better placed not to spread the virus, then there may be some merit in requiring vaccination in certain high-risk circumstances.” He said the question would need to be considered on an industry-by-industry basis. Australian Hotels Association ACT general manager Anthony Brierley said hospitality venues should be able to ban people who had chosen not to be vaccinated from entering. “The hospitality industry has a legislative requirement to provide safe venues for patrons and safe workplaces for staff,” he said. “As such, whether or not venue operators ought to have the ability to require patrons and staff to be vaccinated is a question that should be diligently considered – particularly if it makes our community safer and more resilient against this deadly disease.” READ MORE: Australian Medical Association ACT president Antonio Di Dio said making vaccinations a condition of entry to certain venues may be more palatable than enforcing further lockdowns. “Of course you shouldn’t make vaccination compulsory, but you should make the rest of the population safe,” he said. But much of the discussion would depend on the overall effectiveness of any vaccine, he said. Dr Di Dio said the ACT was preparing “as well as any other jurisdiction” for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is expected the first round of injections will take place at Canberra Hospital, involving high-risk patients or front-line staff. The Pfizer vaccine is on track to gain regulatory approval this month and requires storage at minus 70 degrees. General practitioners and pharmacies will likely play a role in the later expansion of the vaccine across the broader population. That is set to involve the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is able to be stored at common refrigerated temperatures.
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ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says there could be merit in requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for entry into certain high-risk settings.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday said people who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine could be banned from government facilities, while businesses could refuse them entry.
Mr Barr said the government is “not at this point” looking to take a similar stance, with much of the discussion pending on whether a vaccine can effectively stop the spread of the virus.
“We’ve had some discussions at national cabinet level around certain occupations that it would be a prerequisite,” he said.
“As to whether it extends to outside of particular high-risk professions or particular high-risk circumstances, it is something that would need to be given a great deal of consideration.”
Mr Barr said it would be “odd” to mandate vaccinations that do not prevent the transmission of the virus.
“In my mind it is something that would depend a little on the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing the spread of the virus, as opposed to just protecting against the disease,” he said.
“If the idea is that being vaccinated … you’re better placed not to spread the virus, then there may be some merit in requiring vaccination in certain high-risk circumstances.”
He said the question would need to be considered on an industry-by-industry basis.
“The hospitality industry has a legislative requirement to provide safe venues for patrons and safe workplaces for staff,” he said.
“As such, whether or not venue operators ought to have the ability to require patrons and staff to be vaccinated is a question that should be diligently considered – particularly if it makes our community safer and more resilient against this deadly disease.”
Australian Medical Association ACT president Antonio Di Dio said making vaccinations a condition of entry to certain venues may be more palatable than enforcing further lockdowns.
“Of course you shouldn’t make vaccination compulsory, but you should make the rest of the population safe,” he said.
But much of the discussion would depend on the overall effectiveness of any vaccine, he said.
Dr Di Dio said the ACT was preparing “as well as any other jurisdiction” for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
It is expected the first round of injections will take place at Canberra Hospital, involving high-risk patients or front-line staff.
The Pfizer vaccine is on track to gain regulatory approval this month and requires storage at minus 70 degrees.
General practitioners and pharmacies will likely play a role in the later expansion of the vaccine across the broader population.
That is set to involve the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is able to be stored at common refrigerated temperatures.
