Last week the Western Australian Government outlined a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy with a phased approach to a majority of occupations and workforces within Western Australia.
Premier Mark McGowan said, “WA needs to be prepared for community transmission – by mandating our essential and critical workforces we can maintain services, and businesses can continue to operate safely in the long term.
“It’s vital people can continue working should community transmission or a lockdown occur, so that delivery of critical services is not disrupted.”
There are already mandates in place in the state for workforces considered to be the highest risk, including those interacting with people at an increased risk of being infected or vulnerable to COVID-19, or necessary to avoid catastrophic risk to the safety of the community.
The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) WA has said the announcement of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations had already resulted in a surge in WA’s hospitality workers eager to vaccinate to ensure the state’s hotels, bars, pubs, taverns and restaurants are as safe as possible.
AHA(WA) CEO Bradley Woods said the association, in working closely with venues to disseminate advice, understands that there is a great uptake of vaccination within the industry.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, WA’s hospitality owners, operators and staff have done everything possible to keep the industry open, trading and safe for patrons – vaccinations are another example of action that will help Western Australians maintain a way of life that is the envy of the world,” Mr Woods said.
“Feedback we have received shows the overwhelming majority of WA’s hotel and hospitality workers are either vaccinated, in the process of getting vaccinated or intending on making an appointment in the near future.”
He said that the announcement of mandatory vaccinations will serve to expedite the process.
Just under 60 per cent of the population aged 16 and above were double vaccinated on Monday, 25 October.
All hospitality workers will need to have had their first dose by Wednesday, 1 December and be fully vaccinated by Friday, 31 December.
