YOUR RIGHTS
Ask
Judith Let’s be kind to one another Easter is here, winter is around the corner, COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out. A sense of relative calm. But International Women’s Day came and went on 8 March – ironically and very sadly drowned out by a backdrop of public debate and media coverage of toxic workplace cultures that ‘tolerate’ sexual harassment and worse, starting at our nation’s parliament. But our own workplaces are not immune. We await results from the 2020 People Matter Employee Survey, but let’s reflect on the 2019 results. In answer to the question: “In the last 12 months I have been subjected to physical harm and/or sexual harassment or abuse at work”, six per cent of public health workers responded yes! In answer to the question : “In the last 12 months I have witnessed bullying at work”, incredibly 39 per cent stated yes. 21 per cent said they had been subjected to bullying in the previous twelve months. NSW Health results are worse in these areas than the rest of the public sector and have been for years. Why? Why is it that patients or visitors often engage in such behaviour towards nurses and midwives? Why is it that we or other health colleagues can sometimes treat each other unkindly? A stressful environment? Patients and families feeling at their worst? Overworked? Understaffed? Budgetary pressures? No respect? A sense of entitlement? And worse, calling out these behaviours is not so easy. When someone comes forward to make their voice heard, they are often victimised all over again via the “investigation/grievance process”. We just need to do better. 32 | THE LAMP JUNE / JULY 2020
Vaccination Special Who is responsible for what during the Phase 1a rollout? The NSW Government, via NSW Health, is responsible for administering the vaccine to identified priority health staff, quarantine workers, COVID clinic staff and testers, emergency personnel including ambulance and the like. The Commonwealth Government is responsible (via contracted providers) to deliver the vaccine to aged care residents and staff.
Do I have to take time off work to get vaccinated? Public health staff will be scheduled for vaccination appointments during rostered hours. If this is not possible, paid time/award entitlements will apply if outside ordinary hours. As the Commonwealth is delivering the vaccine directly at Aged Care facilities, staff should be able to access these in work time.
If I don’t take up the offer to be vaccinated in Phase 1a, will I be deployed to work in another location? The Commonwealth Government has to date advised that COVID-19 vaccination is not mandatory. Therefore, the rights of an employer to compel its staff to be vaccinated are very limited, i.e., there is no public health order legally requiring it. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health, for example, has said it has no current intention to seek or require staff to be redeployed who do not take up the opportunity to be vaccinated during Phase 1a.
Will this approach change? The approach of not making vaccination mandatory could well be re-considered if the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 changes, or more evidence regarding vaccine efficacy in reducing transmission emerges, especially in high-risk settings. This will be determined based on health advice provided to the Commonwealth Government and/or NSW Government.
Do I need any extra training as a nurse to administer the COVID-19 vaccine? Core COVID-19 training modules have been developed by the Commonwealth Department of Health in partnership with the Australian College of Nursing. Additional training modules have been similarly developed specifically for the supply and administration of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca® vaccines. These are mandatory to complete prior to any involvement in a vaccination program.
Can I choose which COVID-19 vaccine I will receive? The type of COVID-19 vaccine offered will depend on a number of variables, including which priority group the person is part of, the person’s work or residential location, and the quantity/supply of vaccine available. It is currently anticipated that the AstraZeneca® vaccine will be the predominant one used. It does not require the same refrigeration requirements of the Pfizer vaccine. This will make storage and distribution easier and more widespread. At present, it is recommended that you have two doses of the same COVID-19 vaccine to be adequately immunised.
