COVID-19 vaccine mandate repealed for Queensland Health staff

I am writing to inform you of my decision to repeal the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. This decision comes into effect on Monday 25 September with implementation of the change to occur over the next two weeks, and by 6 October 2023. 

My decision has been informed with various advice and feedback in mind, such as: 

• submissions received from industrial partners
• employee feedback during consultation
• a human rights assessment
• expert clinical advice and 
• the latest Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation advice. 

Considering the above and the fact we have high vaccination rates and levels of natural immunity among our Queensland community, I believe a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Services staff is no longer required. 

Keeping our people safe
Queensland Health has many measures in place to control the spread of COVID-19 in our Hospital and Health Services (HHSs), such as but not limited to:

• infection control practices (including ongoing training);
• access to PPE and ongoing FIT testing;
• regular sanitising of patient areas;
• managing symptomatic patients appropriately; and
• following guidelines for management of staff and patients with an acute respiratory infection.

​​I will continue to enforce the message to our people that if they are unwell they should stay at home. As with all communicable diseases, we will continue to encourage our staff to stay up to date with their vaccinations, including COVID-19.

Next steps
As mentioned above, the repeal of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is effective as of Monday 25 September 2023 and the following policies and directives will no longer apply:

• HED no. 12/21: Employee COVID-19 vaccination requirements;
• Employee COVID-19 vaccination requirements HR Policy B70; and
• Employee COVID-19 vaccination requirements (QAS).

This change is subject to necessary preparation and transition actions being completed across the system to prepare for and introduce this change. There will be no new policy to replace the policies being removed, however an implementation plan is being worked through to operationalise this change in vaccine requirement across our system.

Queensland Health is committed to engaging with and consulting employees and unions on the implementation of this decision over the next fortnight. This includes consultation around the draft Queensland Health Provisional Statewide Psychosocial Risk Analysis - Repeal of COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

We will also aim to schedule a meeting of all union parties on 25 September 2023 to continue consultations regarding the repeal, including consultation on the psychosocial risk assessments. I also commit to continuing to share relevant documents that inform our decision making including the advice provided by Associate Professor Paul Griffin.

Wellbeing is a priority
Each HHS is unique in the way it runs and the culture that drives it. To acknowledge this, I have asked each HHS and the department to consider how best to implement this decision to support our people through this change, both at an operational level but most importantly, with employee wellbeing top of mind. Local psychosocial risk assessments have been developed that will be progressed to support the continued safety and wellbeing of staff.

Staff are encouraged to reach out to their line manager for support, or their local employee assistance service provider.

We look forward to working with you in partnership to ensure this change for our workforce is implemented as smoothly as possible.

Michael Walsh
A/Director-General 
21 September 2023