The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) says they expect to have “between 400 and 700 resignations” as vaccinate mandates come into force.

From today, healthcare workers who want to access tier one facilities such as Intensive Care Units or emergency departments, must have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

ANF Secretary Mark Olson says the resignations will not change the union’s position as one of only two unions Australia-wide to support vaccine mandates.

“I know the average number of resignations for September is around 52 to 55,” he told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings.

“We’ve had 210 last month.

“We know that around 150 have resigned in relation to this particular issue.

“We had around 100 the previous month, and I’m expecting, all up, we’ll probably have between 400 and 700 resignations.

“It doesn’t change our position.”

Mr Olson said the union will do as much as it can to prevent further losses of nurses of midwives.

“I know, from the resignation letters I’ve received Liam, that we’ve already had nurses and some midwives resign, rather than getting vaccinated.

“I think that’s sad, but it’s their personal choice.”

The Union added a few hundred WA healthcare workers, across private and public hospitals, haven’t made today’s vaccine deadline, but says it should not be a problem.

“You’ll have people who are on leave for whatever reason, and if you go back to the Chief Health Officer’s order, it says they cannot turn up to work from today if they haven’t had their first jab,” Mr Olson said.

“Now that doesn’t mean they’re terminated.

“So you will have a range of staff who are on leave for various reasons … and they would not be compelled to have the jab by today, because they won’t be turning up to work today, and they won’t be affecting the system

“But when they do come back to work, whenever that is, they will have to have had their first jab.”

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