Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has outlined mandatory vaccination deadlines for more than half of WA’s workforce, including petrol and grocery.
A phased approach has been outlined, with two groups of workforces subject to mandatory vaccination by certain dates, with a third group required to be vaccinated in the event of a lockdown.
The first group includes industries determined to have high transmission risk or are a vulnerability risk or are necessary or critical to the safety of the community. The full list of group one industries is available here and these people must receive their first dose by 1 December and be fully vaccinated by 31 December.
The second group includes workers at supermarkets, grocery, and bakery, as well as petrol stations, truck stops and roadhouses. These workers must receive their first dose by 31 December and be fully vaccinated by 31 January.
The third group is mandated to be fully vaccinated to attend work during a lockdown or similar restrictions. These critical workers must be fully vaccinated to leave home to attend work, to decrease transmission risk and prevent impact on the delivery of services.
These workers include click and collect retail, bottle shops, newsagents, wholesalers, pet stores, among others.
Premier McGowan, said that these mandates set out a safe and clear framework for industries and workers, based on expert health advice.
“This phased approach is safe and proportionate to the risk of COVID-19 in our community,” he 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.
“We’ll be undertaking close discussions with industries over the weeks ahead to ensure industries and workers understand the policy well ahead of the implementation phase.
He said that while it’s pleasing to see vaccination rates climbing in Western Australia, he urges people to not wait until the eleventh hour to book in their jab.
“The time is now. I want to make it abundantly clear that everyone who is eligible should get the COVID-19 vaccine now as we all need to be prepared for the event of community transmission or a lockdown.
“Don’t wait for the deadly Delta variant to enter before you consider getting the vaccine. Get the COVID-19 vaccine now.”
More information on the framework for mandatory vaccinations, including deadlines for all groups, can be found here.