AGED Care boss Afif Hadj – who championed the cause of mandatory vaccinations for staff – is bemused that the government’s endorsement of the move won’t take effect until September.
The Hope Aged Care owner-director set a bold precedent in May when he told his staff if they did not get vaccinated, bar medical exemptions, they would not be rostered on.
Mr Hadj, who runs the Tower Hill facility along with three others in Melbourne – all of which have remained virus-free throughout the pandemic – has long spearheaded moves to see all aged care staff vaccinated.
He issued a memo to his own staff in May, after one of his workers criticised the company policy, telling them: “If you were to bring the virus into my facility, you will be responsible for the deaths of the residents under my care, and you will destroy my business.
“If you don’t wish to be vaccinated, find work outside my facilities.”
On Monday night, national cabinet finally agreed on mandatory vaccinations for all aged care workers, with a first dose by mid-September.
Mr Hadj said the news was “better late than never”, but he was critical of the timing.
“I cannot understand why this has been extended until the middle of September – what’s the point?” he said.
“You’ve made the decision. The sooner you get it done the better.”
None of Dr Hadj’s staff in Swan Hill has refused vaccination, although he said about five per cent of his Melbourne staff had refused “for no other reason than ‘I don’t want to’.”
Those that continue to decline will not be rostered to work, he said.
Other aged care executives said their workers were happy to be vaccinated if it meant protecting the elderly, and keeping their jobs.
“We expect our staff to embrace it, and they have been,” Swan Hill District Health CEO Peter Abraham said.
“It’s like flu vaccination, which is mandatory for aged care workers, so I expect that our age care workers will jump at the chance to get vaccinated.
The health service did not expect any staff at Jacaranda or Logan Lodge to resign over the mandate.
“On the whole, our staff will always do the right thing – what’s in the best interest of the aged care residents,” Mr Abraham said.
Respect Aged Care CEO Brett Menzies said staff at Alcheringa Swan Hill and Cohuna Village were happy to co-operate.
“Most staff I have spoken to have been highly supportive of the vaccination program,” Mr Menzies said.
“Like all workplaces, there are requirements staff have to meet to be able to work within that environment. Aged care is no different.”
