Medical body calls ACT government's refusal to mandate COVID vaccines for health workers a moral failure - The Canberra Times

The nation's peak medical body has labelled the ACT government's refusal to mandate COVID vaccinations for all healthcare workers as failing a moral requirement to prevent an outbreak in the sector.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Friday during the daily COVID media conference said "mandates in and of themselves don't guarantee that you won't see infections within particular workplace settings".

"The evidence would appear that fully vaccinated people - both staff and residents - can catch the virus and get infected," Mr Barr said.

Mr Barr said the aged-care sector was one that already has mandatory vaccinations.

However, Australian Medical Association ACT president Dr Walter Abhayaratna said Mr Barr's comments "do not indicate that he's aware of the reduced risk of COVID infections and reduced of transmission of COVID for those who are vaccinated from a mandate".

"The mandate means that if you're a hospital worker, patients have an additional layer of protection," Dr Abhayaratna said.

Dr Charlotte Hespe, chairwoman of the NSW-ACT faculty of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said she had sent a letter to Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith supporting the move to mandate vaccinations for all health staff.

"When we look at the ethical framework of health care workers looking after patients, there is a responsibility to look to a bigger picture," Dr Hespe said.

Dr Hespe said an option for workers who do not wish to be vaccinated would be to pause work until lockdown eases.