Onsite COVID vaccinations rolled out in Geelong

Driven by a partnership between employers, unions, government and the industry, worker’s entitlement fund, Incolink is running the program providing Pfyzer jabs to construction workers on sites across the region.

BESIX Watpac General Manager Victoria and South Australia, Simon Ballard said the company is proud to be involved in the important initiative.

“Vaccination is critical to help safeguard our sites from COVID-19 so we can safely increase capacity. It’s great to offer this service to our team and subcontractors and we’re delighted with the number of people taking advantage of the opportunity to protect themselves,” Simon said.

The vaccination drive was inspired by feedback from construction workers who overwhelmingly want to be vaccinated at work. In a recent survey, Incolink found that of those construction workers who have not yet been vaccinated, 50% want to be vaccinated on site.

Incolink CEO Erik Locke said once the pilot program was scaled, Incolink intended to vaccinate 20,000-30,000 workers across the state, swiftly boosting vaccination rates within the industry by bringing the jabs direct to workers.

“With the easing of restrictions now directly tied to vaccination rates, we all need to roll up our sleeves, get a jab and get back to a life without lockdowns,” he said. “We don’t want this lockdown to last a minute longer than it has to.

“Geelong is a real hub of construction activity and therefore a key focus for our program – we want to get vaccination rates up to get people back to work and get the economy pumping.

“The construction industry has acted swiftly and proactively throughout the pandemic to protect workers and keep operating safely, with measures including asymptomatic COVID-19 testing onsite, continuous temperature screening through wearable sensors and strict COVIDSafe protocols.

“Vaccination is the critical next step to keep our industry working and the vast majority of workers – around 93% tell us that they are either already vaccinated or want to be. The key thing is to bring the vaccination program to them.”

The vaccination program is also supported by Master Builders Victoria, the Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union and the CFMEU.

Medical staff from the Australian Prostate Clinic (APC) are administering the vaccinations in the same way as a community vaccine centre or GP clinic.