Hundreds of police officers and health workers in Australia have quit their jobs due to vaccine mandates issued in two states.
Governments around the world have introduced many restrictions to try “curb the spread” of Covid-19. Many have forced citizens to stay indoors, their homes becoming a prison. However, many governments are now implementing vaccine mandates, which encroach on every citizen’s right to health freedom.
Mandates have now been introduced in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, leading health workers and police officers to resign to avoid having to get the jab.
In NSW, an estimated 136 health workers and an unknown number of police officers in Queensland have quit their jobs due to vaccine mandates in their workplace.
NSW announced earlier this year that health workers in the state should get at least one dose of the Covid vaccine by September 30th. Since then, 1,200 workers have been suspended and put on paid leave, which will expire after two weeks.
The health union is not surprised, claiming that the loss of employees is “negligible” compared to at least 140,000 employees in the state’s health sector. The government also expects there to be more resignations.
Some NSW regional hospitals are also offering applicants travel and pay incentives to get the vaccine. Reports indicate that the state’s health department is in discussions with the commonwealth about expediting the credentialing of overseas qualifications to hire foreign nurses, particularly intensive care and emergency department nurses who are in high demand because of the pandemic.
The NSW government website states that health workers should have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine before they can work. From November 30th, health care workers must have had both doses of the jab, unless they have a medical exemption that has been approved by NSW Health.
Similarly, in Queensland, police officers have also resigned due to the October 4th deadline for staff to have at least one dose of a Covid jab.
