Their vehicles are giant billboards promoting the jab, but Queensland Fire and Emergency Services personnel are baffled as to why it is not mandatory for them to be vaccinated.
QFES employees and volunteers have told Sunshine Coast News they have been scratching their heads as to why they have not followed suit with other frontline health and emergency response agencies.
Queensland Police officers and support staff had to have their first COVID-19 jab by October 4 or risk being suspended without pay.
Queensland Health employees, including paramedics, doctors and nurses, were required to receive at least one dose by September 30 and a second by October 31. Thousands were suspended when they did not comply.
However, it still is not compulsory for QFES employees and volunteers.
This includes approximately 2200 full-time professional firefighters, 2000 on-call auxiliary firefighters, 30,000 Rural Fire Service (RFS) and 9000 State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers.
Despite their vehicles being emblazoned with “OUR JOB SAVES LIVES. YOUR JAB SAVES LIVES”, some QFES staff and volunteers fear they could become a threat to public safety rather than protectors.
“None of us can believe it – it’s bizarre,” one said.
“The cops, ambos and health workers all have to have it, but it has not yet come in for us. It does not make any sense.”
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In response to questions from Sunshine Coast News, QFES said it “strongly encourages all staff and volunteers to get vaccinated against COVID-19”.
“While it is not currently mandatory for QFES staff and volunteers to be double vaccinated against COVID-19, it is likely that QFES will require staff and volunteers to be double vaccinated in coming weeks, so they can continue delivering their services to the community in a safe manner for themselves and the public,” it said.
“QFES is continuing to work on its plan in response to the Queensland Government’s plan for public health and social measures, and the impact COVID-19 will have on personnel and the community when the Queensland border opens on 17 December 2021.”
The department said it had commenced consultation with relevant unions and associations on this plan and would continue to work with them throughout this process.
“Some QFES operations, such as international and interstate deployments, border operations or entering vulnerable communities already require those completing such tasks to be double vaccinated.”
Meanwhile, Queensland has hit the 70 per cent double dose vaccination target.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk used Twitter to announce the milestone, congratulating the state.
“Keep it up Queenslanders,” Ms Palaszczuk tweeted.
The state was expected to hit 70 per cent on November 19, but there was a recent surge in vaccination rates after the announcement of a vaccine mandate for most Queensland venues.
Sunshine Coast Council’s latest Local Government Area vaccination tracker shows that 74.4% of people in our region are fully vaccinated and 86.5% have now had one dose.
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