Aussie vaccine developer could be AXED for not following Covid rule
An Australian researcher could be facing the chop at work under unusual circumstances for not taking an approved Covid-19 vaccine.
Flinders Medical Centre director of endocrinology Nikolai Petrovsky isn’t an anti-vaxxer. On the contrary, Professor Petrovsky helped develop the COVAX-19 vaccine via his company Vaxine last year.
He also decided to take COVAX-19 himself.
Unfortunately for Professor Petrovsky, COVAX-19 is not an approved vaccine by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and in South Australia, all workers at public and private hospitals are now required to be fully vaccinated.
Professor Petrovsky told the ABC it would be “very dangerous” for him to receive another vaccine dose.
“There is no data on what would happen if you had a full course of one vaccine and then had another course of another kind of vaccine,” he told the ABC.
He clarified he has no objections to vaccines.
Flinders University said in a statement Professor Petrovsky is employed by the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network and could not comment on his employment. Flinders Medical Centre is a state-run facility.
"Flinders University is committed to following the requirements of health authorities and Emergency Management Directions in relation to Covid-19," it said.
"We note it is a requirement for anyone entering a hospital setting in SA to be fully vaccinated with a TGA approved vaccine. We have advised our staff, affiliates, volunteers and contractors of this requirement.
"It follows that anyone not having received a TGA approved vaccine is not able to enter health facilities, effective yesterday 1 November, unless they have a medical exemption."
The university said whether Professor Petrovsky qualifies for an exemption is a matter for health authorities.
"Professor Petrovsky through his private company Vaxine Pty Ltd has been developing a vaccine which is not currently approved for use in Australia," it said.
"We note that the TGA is giving ongoing consideration to its approved vaccine list."
Yahoo News Australia has contacted SA Health for comment.
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