MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s 782 staff must be double dosed with an approved COVID-19 vaccine or risk losing their jobs, although there is no deadline as their ages put them on different vaccination schedules.
Councillors are not included in the Chief Health Officer’s directions and have no specific requirements to be vaccinated “at this stage”.
However, only those who are fully vaccinated will be able to enter a shire workplace or community facilities under the Victorian roadmap.
Councillors are being asked to provide their vaccine status to the shire’s human resources department, which will pass their details to CEO John Baker and the mayor Cr Despi Cr O’Connor, before clearance is given for them to enter shire buildings.
No date has been set for them to re-enter the council chamber, although councillors are due to select the next mayor on Tuesday 16 November.
“Hopefully we will be back in the chamber by then,” Cr O’Connor said.
Yawa Aquatic Centre, Rosebud is preparing to open when 80 per cent of Victorians are vaccinated, with staff aiming for Friday 5 November in line with the state government’s road map. It could be earlier.
In line with the CHO’s advice, swimmers aged over 16 will need to provide their COVID Passport, wear a mask and use the QR code when checking in. Those aged over 12 must wear a face mask.
The same rules will apply at the shire’s child care centres, the pound, libraries, and transfer stations.
The peninsula reached a significant milestone last week with 94.6 per cent of residents aged over 16 having had their first dose and 74.9 per cent two doses of a recognised COVID-19 vaccine.
To get vaccinated, call a GP to check if they are offering vaccinations, speak to a pharmacist, call the vaccine hotline 1800 675 398 or visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine to book a vaccination.
Visit Frankston Community Vaccination Hub, Bayside Shopping Centre Level 1, Shannon Mall, Peninsula Health Vaccination Clinic, Suite 5, 1533 Point Nepean Road, Capel Sound, and Rosebud Respiratory Clinic, 1391 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud, call: 0436 033 507.
Testing is free if done through a public health facility or GP offering bulk billing.
COVID testing clinics are at Rosebud Hospital in Eleanora House at the front of the Rosebud Hospital; Frankston Hospital, corner of Hastings Road and Yuille Street, Frankston; Atticus Health Medical Clinic Hastings: Testing is done in the clinic car park by appointment only, and Rosebud Respiratory Clinic at the Rosebud Skin Cancer Centre. Testing at the clinic by appointment but they are open all weekend.
First published in the Mornington News – 26 October 2021
