Mark McGowan press conference: Third vaccine dose made mandatory for WA workers, hard border goes up

More than a million WA workers will have to roll up for a third covid-19 jab to keep their jobs, Premier Mark McGowan has announced, under one of the world’s first booster mandate.

All workers covered under existing jab mandates — Roughly 1.1 million people — will now be required to get a booster shot within a month of becoming eligible.

This cohort makes up 75 per cent of WA’s workforce. It includes teachers, hospitality workers, healthcare staff, and many other professions, listed in full here.

Mr McGowan said that a third dose provided “hope” against the highly transmissible Omicron strain.

“The health advice confirms the extra dose is far more effective against the Omicron strain compared to two doses.” he said.

“You need to start thinking about booking a third dose as soon as possible, before Omicron comes into our community.”

The latest research suggests that a third vaccine dose can raise your protection against Omicron to more than 86 per cent against symptomatic disease and more than 98 per cent against severe infection.

Up to Wednesday, 89,927 people have had a booster shot in WA, while 266,000 are currently eligible. A whopping 82.3 per cent of West Australians aged 12 and above have had two doses.

Currently, people are eligible for boosters five months after their second dose. The Premier said he hoped that Australia’s vaccine watchdog would bring forward booster shot eligibility.

“If the Therapeutic Goods Administration brings it forward to four months or even three months that allows us to bring forward those mandates for those people,” he said.

“It’s open to medical advice. But my view is we should we should bring it forward as much as possible, so that we can get as many people to a third dose as quickly as we can.”

WA joins France in mandating third doses after Emmanuel Macron’s Government announced the booster would be compulsory for healthcare workers and firefighters.

Australian Medical Association WA President Dr Mark Duncan Smith welcomed the announcement.

“The AMA definitely supports mandating boosters for those who already have mandatory vaccination requirements,” he said.

“Furthermore, I would encourage all WA citizens to get the booster when they become eligible. This is the best way to protect yourselves, medical professionals, and the community at large.”

Tourism Council CEO Evan Hall voiced a similar sentiment.

“It’s good that the State Government has given early clarity that the third booster dose will be part of the mandated vaccine requirements,” he said.

“This provides businesses with more time to manage staff vaccination requirements.”

Mr McGowan has also revealed West Australia will have a hard border with the rest of the country from Boxing day.

In response to rising virus numbers in both States, WA will upgrade border restrictions with the Northern Territory and Tasmania from low risk to medium risk.

To visit WA, travellers from across the country will need to gain an exemption and quarantine for 14 days. The State’s hard border with the rest of the country and the world will be dismantled on February 5.

“These decisions have not been taken lightly,” Mr McGowan said.

“No one wants to stop families returning home to Western Australia during the festive season. No one.

“But given the escalating crisis in other parts of Australia, and based on updated health advice. We’re taking this step to protect Western Australians and stop any spread of the virus into our community.”

The premier also revealed that a Brisbane couple who tested positive for COVID-19 in WA yesterday have at least 35 close contacts — but that the public health risk is “very low.”

The couple were included in today’s case numbers, along with two other people in hotel quarantine. This means today’s case tally sits at four.

The sunshine State couple arrived in Perth on December 19 and were quarantining at home with four relatives in Perth’s east. All four have so far tested negative for COVID. Of 35 close contacts, 23 have tested negative.

Exposure sites include a busy 7-11 in Midland.

The list of exposure sites has been published on the Healthy WA website.