Nurses in Victoria are at the hands of the Chief Health Officer following mandatory vaccination.
Monash Health seeks to fire over 90 nurses who refuse to vaccinate against Covid-19 or refuse to provide proof of vaccination.
While the healthcare center feels it has the right to discipline its nurses, Nick Ferret, who is presenting these healthcare workers proposes that it is only right that the healthcare workers be consulted before such an action is taken.
Nurses need to vaccinate
According to current public health directions, the hospital is obliged to fire healthcare workers who will not abide by the conditions of the hospital.
The nurses presently feel they cannot exercise their rights in this predicament. Since the previous court case has been thrown out, Ferret reveals that this should be explored further in the upcoming trial.
“There’s no suggestion that any of the … relevant employees … is dogmatic about vaccines, and unwilling in all circumstances to get vaccinated,” Ferrett said. “So consultation has value in those circumstances.”
Currently, the hospital has the right to fire nurses who do not follow by obligations of the hospital.
Manosh Health holds the power
In the meantime, Victoria’s chief health officer makes it clear that under the Public Health Act it is required that healthcare workers be fully vaccinated in order to perform their duties.
While the trial hasn’t taken place yet, the court rules that these healthcare workers may indeed be fired under the circumstances of the current act.
As it was stressed before, healthcare workers will be putting the hospital and the public in danger if vaccinations do not take place by healthcare workers.
Additionally, this will not be the last time the healthcare workers stand up for their rights as workers. Their trial will be taking place at a later stage challenging the vaccination mandate.
With the uncertainty around taking the vaccine, this should be the last thing a healthcare center should be going to court for. While a significant amount of individuals have taken the vaccine, healthcare workers should be confirming the safety thereof.
