MANDATORY vaccinations are now required at all Victorian aged care facilities after an emergency declaration from the chief health officer met its deadline on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The health direction, which commenced on September 7 and was finalised on September 17, required aged care staff to either have received a full COVID-19 vaccination, a partial vaccination and made a booking to receive a full vaccination by November 15, or proof of a vaccine exemption.
A spokesperson for the Wimmera Health Care Group said the health service had only been marginally affected by the decision.
Wimmera Health Care Group chief executive Catherine Morley said the effect on team numbers was no different to what might happen over a normal period of staff changes, with retirements or team members moving away.
"The direction for aged care workers at the moment is if you don't have a vaccination or a medical exemption, you are not allowed to work in aged care," she said.
READ MORE:
"At this stage we are continuing to support those few whom are not yet vaccinated to make sure they have enough information to make an informed decision.
"In the meantime we will place them on unpaid leave, or paid leave until they choose and they will not be able to work until they are vaccinated.
"All our workforce is essential to us so we want to support them through this process but we have to follow the directions and look after our vulnerable residents and patients."
Ms Morley said they would take the same approach should the government make it mandatory for all health care workers to be vaccinated.
"At this stage we have close to 90% of our team who've had at least one dose of vaccine and we are continuing to encourage those yet to vaccinate to do so as soon as possible."
Ms Morley said they would take the same approach should the government make it mandatory for all health care workers to be vaccinated.
"At this stage we have close to 90% of our team who've had at least one dose of vaccine and we are continuing to encourage those yet to vaccinate to do so as soon as possible," she said.
MORE NEWS:
In Horsham's Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village, all 107 core staff have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, with 71 per cent fully vaccinated.
A West Wimmera Health Service spokesperson said the health service has achieved "very high" vaccine compliance among its staff.
"For those very few staff who have not met the criteria set out by the chief health officer, these staff are aware of the directive and are not able to work at any of the facilities," the spokesperson said.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data has shown the 32 residential aged care facilities in the Grampians region to have between 90 to 100 per cent first dose vaccination coverage.
For the general population, the Wimmera has achieved more than 70 per cent first dose vaccine coverage, according to the federal government's Operation COVID Shield data.
To see a map of Victorian residential aged care COVID-19 vaccination rates, visit the Department of Health's website.