New SA Health data show that 47 Central Adelaide Local Health Network employees have been transferred to tasks where they do not want contact with patients with COVID-19.
Key points:
- SA hospital workers must have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine by November 1st
- Some employees have already been diverted from potential exposure to COVID-19
- Regional health networks have lower coverage rates
From 1 November, all healthcare professionals at private and public hospitals in South Australia must have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and show proof of a reservation to get their second shot.
In the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, which includes Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth hospitals, 87 percent of workers have had their first dose.
At the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 77 percent have had both doses, while 12 employees have moved to other wards.
Only 66 percent of Eyre and Far North Local Health Network staff have had their first dose, and only 57 percent are fully vaccinated.
|
Local health network |
Dose 1 (percent) |
Dose 2 (percent) |
Number of employees was assigned to a patient pathway that is not COVID-19 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Central Adelaide |
87 |
80 |
47 |
|
Northern Adelaide |
71 |
65 |
0 |
|
Southern Adelaide |
89 |
85 |
0 |
|
Women and children |
82 |
77 |
12 |
|
Barossa Hills Fleurieu |
86 |
65 |
0 |
|
Flinders and Upper North |
80 |
73 |
0 |
|
The limestone coast |
88 |
82 |
0 |
|
Yorke and Northern |
87 |
75 |
0 |
|
Riverland Mallee Coorong |
80 |
63 |
0 |
|
Eyre and Far North |
66 |
57 |
0 |
Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas said the figures were worrying.
He said Prime Minister Steven Marshall had originally said he did not support the mandatory vaccines.
“Still, I think about 40 hours later, [Police Commissioner] “Grant Stevens was out there issuing an order that there would be mandatory vaccination for people working in our hospital system, and that kind of inconsistent message undermines people’s confidence in the process,” Malinauskas said.
Delivered
)Health Minister Stephen Wade said he expected the introduction of a mandatory vaccine requirement would help increase rates, as it did in the elderly care sector.
“There were areas where there was hesitation,” he said.
“We worked with our staff, we informed them — what you see in both public services and non-governmental services is a vaccination rate of more than 99 percent in geriatric care.
“I have no doubt that the same will happen with health.”
Wade announced today that mobile COVID-19 vaccination wagons would be rolled out in southern Australia.
The fleet of 10 former ambulances will have the capacity to administer between 100 to 200 doses a day.
The program will also target culturally diverse communities and people with low socioeconomic backgrounds.
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