Ramsay Newsroom

These frontline health care workers are part of Phase 1a, which comprises people in emergency departments, intensive care units, and on wards or units caring for COVID positive patients. 

Many Ramsay employees and doctors have already received their first doses in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. A number of people in Phase 1a have also pre-registered in the state-run vaccine booking systems. 

Ramsay Australia’s Chief Nurse, Dr Bernadette Eather, said achieving high vaccination rates in Australia would make outbreaks less likely and reduce the need for restrictions such as snap lockdowns and border closures. 

“We know a vaccination program is one of the most effective measures to protect the community against the spread of vaccine preventable illness, so we are working very closely with health departments in various states in Australia to ensure our highest risk staff and doctors are prioritised to receive their vaccines,” Dr Eather said. 

“An effective vaccination program will significantly reduce risk of severity of illness if COVID-19 is contracted, and early studies show it may also have an impact on reducing transmission of COVID-19.” 

Dr Eather said it was great to see many Ramsay sites in regional areas partnering with their local public hospitals to allow their hospital staff to get vaccinated.  

“Some of these regional vaccination hubs which commenced this week include the Wollongong Hospital hub and the John Hunter hub in Newcastle.”  

Health care workers are also being vaccinated at two Ramsay-operated facilities: Peninsula Private Hospital in Victoria and Joondalup Health Campus in Western Australia.  

The remaining Ramsay staff and doctors will be included in Phase 1b of the vaccine roll-out, which is due to commence shortly.