Catholic Health Calls For Third Vaccine To Be Mandatory

Catholic Health Australia Has Called For The COVID-19 Booster Shot To Be Mandatory For All Health And Aged Care Workers.

Laudetur Iesus Christus.

The Australian Church's healthcare arm has made a strong call for the Government to mandate third COVID-19 vaccinations for all health and aged care workers. The call comes as the Government's booster program begins to gain momentum.

Vaccinations Have Been Divisive Amongst Church Goers. Photo: CNS

Catholic Health Australia said that it welcomed the approval of a booster COVID-19 shot but is calling on the Federal Government to ensure the shots are compulsory.

CHA is the largest non-government provider of health, community and aged care services in Australia and has been advocating strongly for a booster to be approved for a number of months.

Frontline staff who got their first jabs early in the year have been worried their immunity will likely drop.

CHA's health policy manager Alex Lynch said the sector was relieved by the Pfizer booster approval, but the Government needed to do more to ensure safety.

"As we have been saying for weeks, there is strong evidence that the immunity offered against Delta by two vaccine doses wears off significantly after eight months," Mr Lynch said.

"So, doctors, nurses, and those in aged care who got their first shots early are becoming vulnerable. They need that booster."

Mr Lynch added: "It's good that health and aged care workers are in that priority group, but we need that booster shot to be a compulsory condition for working in hospitals as well as residential and community aged care."

"We need the government to send an unambiguous message: if you work in health or aged care, then you must be vaccinated."