CORONAVIRUS — DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION — VACCINATIONS
631. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the Chief Health Officer's
amendment to regulations last week which henceforth directs compulsory COVID-19
vaccinations for Western Australian health workers from 1 October.
(1) What policy
or directive currently applies to the vaccination status of all workers,
including teachers, education assistants and ancillary staff, within Western Australian
primary and secondary schools?
(2) Noting the
vulnerability of children to the virus, is the government considering the
implementation of compulsory COVID-19 vaccinations for the above workers before
the commencement of term 4 this year?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) In line with
advice from the Chief Health Officer, Department of Education staff are
strongly encouraged to be vaccinated. Principals have been advised to assist
staff in schools to access vaccinations using a planned approach, including
allowing staff time during work time to attend a vaccination clinic. This enables
teaching and learning to continue while provisioning the opportunity for staff
to be vaccinated.
(2) Not
currently.