Vax ruling for more
POLICE and teachers face the possibility of mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations.
Health workers face an end of October deadline for vaccinations and the government on Friday announced disability workers also would be required to be fully vaccinated.
Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Sunday said the government would consider extending mandatory vaccinations to other groups.
“Over 70 per cent of Tasmanians are fully vaxxed,” he said.
“We will, of course, consider other areas across our public service, particularly areas that are front-facing with our community, such as police, education and, of course, the mandatory vaccination for our health workers.
“All matters in terms of mandatory vaccination of course will be considered.”
THE state government is open to the possibility of mandating Covid-19 vaccinations for employees such as police and teachers, Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff says.
Health workers face an end of October deadline for vaccinations and the government on Friday announced disability workers would also be required to be fully vaccinated.
Mr Rockliff said the government would consider extending mandatory vaccinations to other groups.
“Over 70 per cent of Tasmanians are fully vaxxed,” he said.
“We will, of course, consider other areas across our public service, particularly areas that are front facing with our community, such as police, education and, of course, the mandatory vaccination for our health workers.
“All matters in terms of mandatory vaccination of course will be considered.
“We want to ensure all Tasmanians, firstly, have had the opportunity of vaccination and we’re progressing extremely well.”
Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Friday that the state would ease border restrictions for travel to all states from December 15.
Mr Rockliff said the push to vaccinate younger Tasmanians was proceeding well, with a major target being reached at the weekend.
“It’s very pleasing to see that we’ve reached a significant milestone with our 12 to 15-year-olds: 50 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds in Tasmania have had their first dose, which is tremendous,” he said.
“When it comes to December the 15th and opening up our borders, we need to protect ourselves, our community and our loved ones, and the best defence against Covid-19 is a vaccination.”
Mr Rockliff said the government would wait for further advice from federal expert groups before extending vaccination into younger age groups.
“It is quite understandable for people to be concerned about ensuring that we do have the opportunity for vaccination for our five to 12year-olds,” he said.
“Those matters are being sorted through now with federal jurisdictions in terms of the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the like.”