Originally published July 12, 2023 9:16 am PDT
The Victorian COVID-19 vaccination data held by employers, which was collected under the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (COVID-19 Vaccination Information) Regulations, is now due to be eliminated.
These regulations, which came into effect in 2022 following the lifting of vaccination mandates under pandemic orders, expired last week.
Consequently, businesses have been given a 30-day window to erase the vaccination information they have collected under these regulations, according to a Tuesday report from the Australian Associated Press (AAP).
These regulations permitted businesses to obtain, document, retain, and utilize information about their employees, contractors, volunteers, and work placement students’ COVID-19 vaccinations.
However, this mandate does not affect those who are legally obligated or permitted to retain the data.
As the deadline approaches, a workplace health and safety regulator, WorkSafe, issued a reminder to employers.
The organization emphasized that legislation aside from the recently expired regulation also protects the COVID-19 vaccination status of workers.
Simultaneously, news has emerged regarding the departure of Victoria’s chief health officer, Brett Sutton, who is set to leave his position on July 28, AAP notes.
This announcement was made by the Victorian government, marking the end of his four-year tenure.
Interestingly, Sutton had remained silent in press conferences for ten months before revealing his decision to step down in June.
Following his departure from his role as Victoria’s public health chief, Sutton is slated to take on a new role as director of health and biosecurity at the CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.
Sutton’s transition to a new role indicates a shift in his career trajectory, yet his public health expertise will continue to play a crucial role in the country’s science sector.
