Redeployment and employment termination are among the options for Tasmanian healthcare workers who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 without a medical reason to do so.
Health Department secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks was questioned about the policy, announced on Friday, during budget estimates this week.
Healthcare workers will have until the end of October to provide evidence of vaccination, but can receive an exemption if they meet the criteria for a "medical contrary indication certificate".
Ms Morgan-Wicks said a range of factors would guide the next step for workers who refuse vaccination without the certificate.
"That is when we will work through the options with them," she said.
"Depending on the volume and number and circumstances of every single case, those options will include redeployment.
"The options also include termination if we are unable to redeploy, or if other sectors of the public sector for example also shift to a mandatory vaccination requirement in the future.
"We will do our best to work with them, but my strongest recommendation to every individual that is able to receive a vaccine [is] to get one."
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation was not consulted prior to the decision, and Ms Morgan-Wicks said she would meet with the union to discuss the policy - including the definition of "healthcare worker" - on Tuesday.
Mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers was being considered by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, with definitions likely in the coming days.
Ms Morgan-Wicks said Tasmania had moved early.
"We felt that we could not wait, particularly given the deteriorating situation on the mainland, the concerns that were being very vocally voiced, particularly by the AMA in relation to mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers and issues around furloughing and impact on health system capacity," she said.
"We would have then the week to work through those final definitions and details together with our employee representatives."
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Adam Holmes
From Adelaide to south-west Victoria, Bendigo to Tasmania, I've provided in-depth stories in politics, environmental affairs, issues facing disadvantaged communities, legal affairs and much more. Contact me at adam.holmes@examiner.com.au or on Twitter at @adamholmes010
From Adelaide to south-west Victoria, Bendigo to Tasmania, I've provided in-depth stories in politics, environmental affairs, issues facing disadvantaged communities, legal affairs and much more. Contact me at adam.holmes@examiner.com.au or on Twitter at @adamholmes010
