An effective Covid-19 vaccine program hinges on protecting front-line workers

To ensure
the Covid-19 vaccination program is delivered safely and efficiently, the
Federal Government should include frontline council workers in the cohort
receiving the first shots, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA)
says.

Councils
employ a significant number of aged care and disability care staff and ALGA is
pleased this cohort has already been identified by the Morrison Government as
being eligible to be first in line to get the vaccines – along with health care
workers, first responders, aged care residents, and other seniors.

ALGA has
written to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt asking for his support to include
essential frontline workers in local government among the groups getting the
vaccine first.

With the
logistical details of the vaccination program still being finalised, ALGA
President Linda Scott said other frontline council workers need to be defined
as priority groups.

Speaking
ahead of Friday’s National Cabinet meeting, Cr Scott said: “These are workers
who have significant daily contact with members of the public.

“People
such as waste services staff, building and compliance officers, rangers, and
food and environmental health workers.

“To protect
them – and the many people they engage with each day – they should be
classified as being eligible for priority vaccine access.”

Councils
also employ customer service staff to provide essential services to residents
and ratepayers – many of whom are elderly or vulnerable – and Cr Scott says
these individuals should also be considered for early access to the vaccine.

Cr Scott
said: “Local government has played a significant role in ensuring businesses
and public spaces operate in a Covid-safe way in the past 12 months.

“Councils
have kept in touch with vulnerable people in isolation, delivered meals and
library books, and worked in countless ways to keep our communities as safe as
possible.”

Local
government has cooperated closely with state and territory governments to
support the implementation of Covid response measures and recovery – and the
sector is ready to play its part in the vaccine rollout.

“Councils
will help promote the program and educate local communities about efficacy and
safety of the vaccine,” Cr Scott said.

“We can
provide spaces suitable for mass vaccinations with waiting areas that allow for
physical distancing. All these will be factors in ensuring the highest possible
immunisation rate.

“It makes
good sense to protect the frontline personnel helping direct these efforts,” Cr
Scott said.

She added that any discussion by the National Cabinet of regional or rural locations for Covid quarantine facilities needs to consider the local government perspective.

“To open
new facilities with minimal public consultation risks compromising the
integrity of the quarantine program as well as potentially spreading Covid-19
to local communities.

“Quarantine
camps in regional areas will have a direct effect on local government.

“These
impacts would be better understood and appreciated if local government was
represented in National Cabinet.”

Cr Scott said councils are prepared to work closely with the states and Commonwealth to ensure the quarantine load is shared equally, and the best way to do this is through National Cabinet with local government represented at the table.

ENDS