“The community rightfully expects hospitals and other places providing health services to be safe environments to receive treatment, care and support,” said Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Shane Kelly.

“As health care workers, we have a societal responsibility to get vaccinated and comply with all measures, including stringent infection control processes and the correct wearing of PPE, which make our hospitals and other services as safe as possible and maintain community confidence in the health care system.

“Vaccination provides the best protection, and is vital to looking after our patients and each other.”

Dr Kelly said that St John of God Health Care already had a strong focus on encouraging employee vaccination across its national workforce, but that the announcement would provide the right impetus for those who felt there was less urgency in Western Australia, which isn’t currently experiencing community transmission of COVID-19.

“While WA government policies have been very effective with respect to community transmission of COVID-19, experience shows that the high transmissibility of the virus does not allow for complacency.

“It is consistent with our duty of care to provide a safe environment for our patients and our employees. Vaccination is essential to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the severity and mortality associated with this highly infectious disease.

“The full vaccination of our national workforce will be a high priority over the coming weeks.”