This study, published by our sister organizations in Australia (Australian Medical Professionals Society and the Nurses Professional Association of Queensland), and approved by The University of Queensland Research and Ethics committee (2023), explored the economic and psychosocial impacts of government disciplinary processes that included protracted suspension without remuneration and termination from public health services in Australia.
This study is one of the first to investigate the economic and psychosocial effects of non-compliance with a Covid-19 vaccine as well as the first study to investigate damage associated with the economic and psychosocial effects of non-compliance with a Covid-19 vaccine mandate.
Data collected during the study indicated that 34% of respondents indicated suicidal ideation consistent with severe psychosocial harm. The loss of employment, income and isolation from colleagues previously considered friends being significant drivers.
The results of this study suggest considerable harm was experienced by healthcare staff who chose not to be vaccinated against Covid-19. The economic and psychosocial consequences for these principled individuals are by no means trivial or even reasonable when compared to the relatively low threat now posed by the significantly mutated SARS-CoV-2 virus.
As in New Zealand, public trust in Australian health, political and media institutions has been damaged. Penalizing employees for vaccine rejection is neither the most effective nor fair way to improve vaccination rates when it brings significant psychosocial and economic risks for the most vulnerable.
Disciplinary processes were carried out without due regard for potential economic or psychosocial harm. Penalties also compound disadvantages for women and single income homes.
In all arguments for and against mandatory vaccination in the healthcare sector one truth must prevail: vaccination mandates must demonstrate greater benefit than any harm they may cause. The economic and psychosocial devastation of individuals who exercised their medical freedom to not comply with this government vaccine mandate could ultimately have intergenerational consequences beyond those revealed in this study and will certainly be of interest to the world of psychology for years to come.
The Nurses Professional Association of New Zealand (NPANZ) is grateful to our colleagues for highlighting the ongoing plight of Australian health care workers in relation to Covid-19. Over 821 New Zealand Nurses, Carers and Midwives/LMC's were terminated in November 2021 from hospitals and public health roles. Many more New Zealand health care workers representing clinical and non-clinical roles, in both private and public settings were also terminated; many have been unable to return to their roles and continue to face prejudice.