Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
NT vaccinations surge after fines threat

More than 1500 workers have booked to get the jab after the Northern Territory announced a tough new COVID-19 vaccination law applying to most workers.

October 18, 2021

The Northern Territory’s tough new COVID-19 vaccination law requiring most workers to get the jab or face a hefty fine has prompted a surge in first-dose bookings.

The new health directive announced on Wednesday makes it mandatory for any worker who interacts with the public to have their first by jab by November 12.

It prompted more than 1500 new vaccination bookings in the first 24 hours and pushed the NT’s first dose jab rate from 78 per cent to 80 per cent in four days.

It also prompted the second-dose rate to climb from 65 per cent to 69 per cent for the same period.

“In the 24 hours following the vaccine mandate announcement we saw online bookings triple, while phone and walk-in appointments doubled when compared to the 24 hours before the announcement,” Health Minister Natasha Fyles said on Monday.

Workers will need to ensure they’ve had their second dose by December 24.

If they’re don’t, they’re likely to find themselves slapped with a $5000 fine and locked out of their workplace for failing to comply with a mandated health directive.

Employees who must be vaccinated under NT law include retail store employees, supermarket staff, hospitality workers, barbers, hairdressers, beauty therapists, receptionists and bank staff.

It also includes essential infrastructure, security, transport and logistics workers, along with workers who come into contact with people at risk of severe illness from the virus, such as Aboriginal Territorians.

The new rules also allow employers to demand proof of vaccination from staff and to keep information on those who have had the jab.

Critics of the policy say the NT government has gone too far and the new law is among the toughest in the world.

Overall, 80 per cent of people in the NT have had their first vaccine dose and 69 per cent are fully vaccinated

There are 251,396 people living in the NT, according to the territory’s government.

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