‘Opt-in approach’ for COVID-19 vaccine in disability sector ‘isn’t working’

Catholic Health Australia’s Strategy Director Rebecca Burdick Davies has pushed for the government vaccine mandate for aged care staff to include disability workers, saying the “opt-in approach isn’t working”.

The federal government has currently mandated all residential aged care workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment from September 17 of this year.

Ms Davies said the lack of vaccine mandate is “not working for about half the disability support workforce.”

“What they need is the extra nudge, the extra little push that a government mandate would provide,” she told Sky News Australia.

“That’s what our members are telling us; that’s what we know would keep our clients, our staff and our entire community safe.

“We’ve seen that with the aged care workforce, a government mandate works in providing that extra nudge, that nudge beyond vaccine hesitancy for a big chunk of that high-risk workforce.”