It’s pretty fucked that the NSW government is sending in the army to make sure people in Western Sydney are staying at home instead of, you know, making sure people’s needs are met during a pandemic instead.
But now it’s been revealed that the soldiers who’ll be knocking on people’s doors might not be fully vaccinated, even though they’re being sent in to enforce lockdown restrictions in Sydney’s COVID hotspots. It’s also worth noting that they’re mainly set to target people who have tested positive for COVID, which seems like something that vaccinated people should be doing.
“Not everyone who is doorknocking has been vaccinated but they will have the proper PPE described by health authorities which are masks, like the ones we are wearing. Work health and safety applies to them equally,” NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said at the daily press conference on Friday.
“It’s not mandatory [for soldiers to be vaccinated] but it is mandatory we apply a high level of PPE and what would be in the community.”
Not every police or Army officer that is doorknocking will be fully vaccinated but they’ll be wearing a higher level of PPE, @nswpolice Commissioner Mick Fuller says
— Gavin Coote (@GavinCoote) July 30, 2021
However, Fuller did note that cops have already been vaccinated which, sure, great, whatever.
But that doesn’t change the fact that unvaccinated soldiers are being sent into already-overpoliced and often-marginalised communities to check up on people who have tested positive or are close contacts.
Not only is it a slap in the face, but it also seems be at odds with the fact that all other front-line emergency workers have been vaccinated so that we can be safe.
The 300 or so ADF soldiers are expected to start doorknocking in the streets of Sydney (with a focus on Western Sydney hotspots) from Monday.
All adult Aussies (yep, even if those of us under 40) are currently able to get the safe and effective AstraZeneca vaccine through a GP. Talk to a doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Alternatively, you can triple-check to see if you’re eligible for the Pfizer vaccine here.
The best vaccine is the first one you can get, and that’ll be our ticket out of this mess.
