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The nation’s employers now have greater certainty and confidence to manage Covid workplace vaccinations following the introduction of a national no-fault vaccine indemnity scheme, the Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia, Jennifer Westacott, says
“Business is determined to help protect the health of the community, and one of the important roles we are playing is providing workplace vaccination programs to keep our teams safe,” she stated.
According to Westacott, the Federal Government’s delivery of a national no-fault vaccine claim scheme will ensure Australians are protected while removing the legal uncertainty for employers of all sizes which are involved in administering vaccinations to their employees.
“The job of business is to help accelerate vaccine take-up and assist with the government’s rollout. [The] announcement will give thousands of businesses the confidence to get on with this task,” she said
“We thank Health Minister Greg Hunt for listening and acting on the concerns of the medical, healthcare, business and insurances sectors.’’
Meanwhile, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has also welcomed the Federal Government announcement, saying it reduces the risks and uncertainties businesses faced for implementing voluntary vaccination drives.
The organisation said in a statement that it had long advocated for indemnity protections so that employers would not be saddled with the costs from a reaction or injury caused by vaccination. It had worked closely with the Australian Medical Association and the Insurance Council of Australia to secure this commitment.
“We know that as vaccine supply grows, workplace vaccination programs will have an increasingly important role in the national rollout,” the ACCI’s Chief Executive, Andrew McKellar, said.
“Many employers had indicated that they are willing to assist and are actively considering workplace vaccination programs. However employers, like clinicians, raised ongoing concerns about indemnity arrangements to cover administration of Covid-19 vaccines.
“Businesses are strongly committed to playing their part in promoting the vaccination rollout, having indicated that they are willing to assist and are actively considering workplace vaccination programs.”
The ACCI says turning workplaces into vaccinations hubs will support reaching reopening thresholds in Australia, as well as assisting with the booster shot program in 2022.