ALMOST 100 per cent of volunteers at Warrnambool's Salvation Army Thrift Shop have had their COVID-19 vaccination.
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Essential volunteer workers fall into the state government's authorised worker vaccine mandate.
Thrift Shop manager Leanne Atkinson said 97 per cent of volunteers at the store had been vaccinated with three people due to get their jabs shortly. "We've been very lucky with our volunteers," she said.
"It's very important given the vulnerable people who come into the organisation and through the shop. Once most (of the community) are vaccinated it will give us so much freedom."
Ms Atkinson said the majority of volunteers were over 60 and despite the difficult 18 months the group had pulled together for every new challenge. She said the shop was an essential social structure for a lot of the volunteers and customers.
Salvation Army Core Commander Brett Allchin said the Salvation Army had been very strong on all personnel, no matter what site they worked at, being vaccinated.He said throughout the pandemic the organisation had continued to provide up to date information to employees and volunteers. "We've been very strong, not just in the protection of ourselves but the protection of others," he said.
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It is expected the SES will have more data on the number of volunteers vaccinated in the coming weeks.
CFA staff and volunteers gained an exemption under the new laws, allowing unvaccinated workers to attend emergency scenes in "exceptional circumstances", however they will not be allowed at brigades for training or functions.
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