SES volunteers being turned away from flood zones because of vaccination status

SES volunteers are being turned away from flood zones because they are not vaccinated against COVID.

After almost 10 years working as volunteers, Peter told Neil Mitchell he and his wife had been prevented from helping with the flood crisis because they hadn’t had their booster shot.

“We’re both double-vaccinated,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear him explain his situation

And he says they’re not alone.

“There are dozens, possibly hundreds, in the same situation,” he said.

Volunteers were told, in an email, they’d need to be triple jabbed when Victoria’s pandemic declaration ended last Wednesday.

In a statement, the SES says volunteers are only required to have two doses of the vaccine to respond to emergencies and attend critical training.