Bayside Council will ask that local government front-line staff be given "priority group status" during the early stages of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Australia.
Mayor Joe Awada is expected to outline the request in a Mayoral Minute to be lodged at next Wednesday's meeting of Bayside Council.
The council's front-line staff, who were classified as essential workers during the Public Health Order restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, should be given the same "priority group status" for the vaccine, he said.
These would include workers in waste collection and cleaning, maintenance and child care.
Cr Awada will call on the council to approach the LGNSW and Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) to ensure that local government front-line staff are recognised when the priority groups for vaccination against COVID-19 are determined.
"Overall planning for an Australian COVID-19 vaccine program is well underway," Cr Awada said in his Mayoral Minute.
"The Australian Government is developing its strategy for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines and program delivery, including identifying and defining priority groups eligible to receive the first rounds of COVID-19 vaccination in Australia.
"One of the criteria in their strategy is to ensure the functioning of our health care and other essential service workers is maintained as they work to preserve the health, social and economic security for all Australians.
"The first release of vaccinations is appropriately identified for those most at risk, including our aged and vulnerable; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders; people with pre-existing underlying select medical conditions; health and aged care workers and those other care workers in occupations with a caring role for vulnerable populations and in potentially high transmission settings (e.g. group residential care workers, disability care workers or others).
"Our front-line staff are also in this essential service category in terms of the services they provide such as waste collection and cleansing of our city; the amenity and maintenance of our open spaces for the enjoyment of all; and the continued provision of childcare at our facilities."
