SA Health staff vaccination policy updated
26 July 2024
From today, COVID-19 vaccination is no longer mandatory for SA Health staff in patient-facing roles, following a review of SA Health’s vaccination policy.
COVID-19 vaccination continues to be strongly recommended for all South Australians, especially healthcare workers.
The policy change follows consultation with staff and recognition of the changing environment around COVID-19 immunity in the community.
Commencing in October 2021, Category A and B workers were required to have at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccination to work in patient-facing roles under the Policy: Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening, and vaccination.
Of about 45,000 staff, about 245 permanent employees who refused vaccination had their employment terminated under the policy.
In the period since late 2021, population immunity to COVID-19 in South Australia has reached near universal immunity due to vaccination, past infection or a combination of both.
Scientific evidence shows that hybrid immunity – from being vaccinated and also experiencing COVID-19 infection – provides the highest level of protection against potential severe disease, hospitalisation, long-COVID or death.
For more information visit SA Health.
Quotes attributable to Chief Executive Officer, Department of Health and Wellbeing, Robyn Lawrence
We still strongly support the benefits of vaccination and still strongly recommend staff are vaccinated to protect themselves against COVID-19.
It was the right policy decision to do everything we could to limit the impacts of COVID-19 by requiring staff to vaccinate.
Now we have high community immunity to COVID-19 and we have consulted extensively with our health workforce. It’s the right time to update our policy to reflect the change in circumstances.