EMBRACING WAY OUT PROVING THE TOUGH PART

WHO would have thought that at the start of this pandemic the hardest thing would turn out to be embracing a way out. Many opposed to having the vaccine claim they are not anti-vaxxers but anti-Covid jab.

In the end, it is the same result. This week Health Minister Yvette D’Ath confirmed suspensions were on the way for unvaccinated staff.

As it stands, 451 Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service employees do not have vaccination records.

They account for about 6.3 per cent of the workforce – although 232 were on leave and may have their status updated on return to work.

It still leaves at least 219 workers who have not had the jab despite a mandatory deadline having arrived on Monday.

Regardless of what roles these workers have, not having them being productive will have an effect on our hospital system.

Cairns Hospital has been feeling the pressure for years with the Esplanade often used as an ambulance carpark for the emergency department during periods of ramping.

It is one of the reasons why this masthead has campaigned for a tertiary upgrade.

This is Queensland’s public health system and yet when the state should be flying out of this mess we are sending people with critical skills home on full pay.

Today we reveal where our frontline local government representatives sit with getting a vaccination.

Just like our emergency services personnel, a councillor’s role is all about dealing with the public.

They and our emergency services personnel have the right to make their own decisions but these roles do take them into the very heart of our community.