At Hireup, we are pleased to see Australia’s vaccination campaign gathering pace. It's unlikely the country will ever ‘eliminate’ COVID. But life will return to normal once the overwhelming majority of people are vaccinated.
Australia is on track. Already well over 50% of people over 16 have had at least one vaccine dose. In total, nearly 20 million vaccines have been delivered. Every day, that number grows by around 300, 000.
All disability support workers over 16, and all National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants over the age of 12 are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Supply of some vaccines has been a problem, but things are improving fast.
That’s good, because we know our community is keen. More than half the people who responded to a survey earlier this month told us they’d already been fully vaccinated. Almost two-thirds said they had had at least their first dose.
That’s great; but we need everyone to play their part.
Hireup strongly recommends that all support workers, and clients who can, get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccination is the best way for workers and clients to protect themselves, each other and others from COVID-19. Through vaccination, lockdowns will lift and the world we knew will return.
Hireup isn’t planning to mandate vaccination as a country-wide policy. But the New South Wales government has said disability support workers who live or work in 12 local government areas ‘of concern’ in Sydney must have had their first vaccine dose by September 19th to continue working. Hireup needs to act within the law and so requires workers living or working in those Sydney areas to have a vaccine and tell us. It’s possible similar legal requirements will be introduced in other areas soon. Such rules apply to all disability support workers, whoever they work for.
I've been vaccinated so I’m protecting myself and those I come into contact with. I’m happy to be doing my bit to bring an end to lockdowns too.
The last 18 months have been tough; for many the last two - in lockdown - have been toughest of all. Through vaccination we can put all this behind us.
Please play your part.
Thanks,
Jordan
Jordan O'Reilly
Hireup co-founder and co-CEO.