A personal message on vaccine boosters

A message to our amazing Support Workers on vaccine boosters from Hireup CEO Jordan O'Reilly

If you are a support worker on the Hireup platform, we know you turn up to work each and every day because you care deeply about the people you support and want to make the world a better place. For that we are so grateful. We appreciate each and every one of you for being a part of our community.

It was because our support workers care about the community that so many of you - over 95% - rolled up your sleeves last year and got the first two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination. In doing so you were keeping yourselves, the people you support, and the wider community safe, and for that we are so thankful.  

Public Health departments all across Australia are now asking the wider community, and support workers in particular, to get the COVID-19 booster. Doing so is mandated by governments right across Australia, and supported by Hireup because we want to ensure that the people with disability we support - many of whom are immunocompromised - are kept safe. And so we are asking you to roll your sleeve up again and get a third jab.

We ask that of you while understanding that there is some hesitancy in the wider community, and among some Hireup support workers, about getting the booster. For many, the booster shot seems irrelevant now that COVID-19 is so rife in the community, or unnecessary given that most people experience mild symptoms. 

While we respect the views of all people in our amazing community, it does remain extremely important that our workers get boosted.

1. People who are boosted can still catch and infect others with COVID-19, but they are far less likely to spread the virus than those who have only been double vaccinated. They are less infectious even if they do catch the disease, and infectious for a lower number of days than the unboosted. As you work closely with people with disability, this really matters. We might not be able to ‘stop the spread’ but we can, collectively, slow it and boosters are central to that. The ‘social duty’ of getting a booster is the primary reason for getting one as a support worker.   
2. You’re also protecting yourself. Recent data has shown that booster doses were 90 percent effective at keeping people out of hospital after becoming infected with COVID-19, particularly the omicron variant. We’ve seen this in Australia and New Zealand. While COVID-19 cases are higher than ever before, hospitalisations, deaths, and serious illness remain low. 
3. It’s the law. In your state, the legislation is clear that, in line with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), a vaccine booster is a requirement; compulsory for disability support workers. There are only limited exemptions to this. 
   

Again, I understand the hesitancy. I had COVID-19 myself earlier this year. While unpleasant, for me it wasn’t too big a deal. Most people I know personally now have had COVID-19 at some point in the last four months too; hardly any have had complications. Having had COVID, we’re all likely more immune than we would have been even without extra jabs.

Yet I've still had my booster.

Why? For all the reasons above, and also to support the overwhelming majority of our workers who have had the booster, in line with government regulation and a commitment to the people with disability they support. 

So, for your safety, the safety of the people you support, and the continuity of your incredibly important work, I again ask you to get your booster shot as soon as possible. 

With many thanks,

Jordan O’Reilly