The national employer association Ai Group has met with the Head of the National COVID Vaccine Taskforce, Lieutenant General John Frewen, to discuss business support for ramping up the vaccination effort.
Ai Group's national advisory councillors, including CEOs and senior executives from some of our largest employers, advised LT GEN Frewen of their willingness to engage further with the vaccine program by encouraging their staff to be vaccinated including by arranging for workplace-based vaccination.
"Ai Group members told LT GEN Frewen that there was strong support for vaccination as a public health measure and as a means to end the lockdowns," Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said.
"Ai Group's councillors agreed that it was in the best interests of the Australian community, including employers and employees, for as many Australians to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
"The clear advice to employers is that the vaccine supply will be at a level in October which would allow greater involvement by employers in the vaccination roll-out.
"Given that October is barely seven weeks away, businesses need time to prepare for workplace based vaccinations to complement other vaccine programs.
"Businesses will need to ramp up their preparedness to deliver the vaccine in the same way as the flu vaccine but governments should not underestimate the administration issues they face such as coordinating IT with Myhealth records.
"The trials currently underway with a number of the big banks will help smooth the way for other businesses to conduct their own vaccination programs.
"However, barriers remain for some businesses to get involved and turn their own workplaces into vaccination hubs. Employers and the workplaces where vaccines are delivered should be given the same indemnity as the medical professionals who deliver the vaccine. This is not related to mandating the vaccine, rather it is a means to encourage more employers to support the vaccination effort.
"The hardest stage of the vaccination program will be getting the hesitant across the line and up to the 80 per cent vaccination target. Employers can help by offering alternatives to the current vaccination options.
"In the meantime, Ai Group members are reinforcing the importance of the vaccination with their workforce, their families and the community," Mr Willox said.
