Double Vaccinations - Will it be necessary?

It's a good question. Subject to government announcements it may be necessary for all clients who intend to visit our office to have completed their 'double vaccinations'. However, if it's left to businesses to decide, honestly - we haven't reached a decision... yet.

We acknowledge that vaccination doesn't mean immunity. It also doesn't mean that someone who has been double vaccinated wouldn't be sick or infectious or pose the same risk as someone who hasn't been vaccinated. Ultimately, our eventual policy decision (whatever that may be) will reflect whatever the government announces and whatever we determine is in the best interest of our team and our clients with their health and safety as our paramount concern.

So far we have warned everyone who has made enquiries with us that double vaccination may be a requirement for any face-to-face appointments, which means that if they need to have documents witnessed or their identity verified, they may need to prepare themselves accordingly.

Leaving aside the requirement of vaccination (which is to be determined before we eventually re-open), we'll continue to require COVID Safe check-in, and observe social distancing and safe workplace practices. We thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation.

Spring 2021 - Plan Ahead for when Sydney reopens for business

It's 1 September 2021 - the first day of Spring. If you've been paying attention to the news, you'd know that the NSW Government has been hinting at a move towards lifting the current restrictions and allowing businesses to reopen. For all our clients who have been waiting patiently, thank you.

As soon as the restrictions have been lifted, we plan to reopen with revised processes and procedures to align ourselves with a post-vaccination society. This means, subject to government announcements or directions regarding the requirement for vaccinations, we'll be ensuring that all of our staff who are present in our office have been fully vaccinated and all clients who must visit our office are also fully vaccinated.

What's so important about vaccination?

The lack of immunity and the associated fear is largely what's driven the pandemic panic in Australia. Unlike what people have experienced overseas, we haven't had mass infections or deaths as a result of the coronavirus. Perhaps that's why there have been pockets of ambivalence within our community, much to our own risk. Despite the relatively low numbers in Australia, taking these steps (any or all of these steps) to prevent the global pandemic from becoming a true Australian epidemic is necessary.

We're sure that for all the people who have passed away due to COVID-19 all over the world, especially pre-vaccination, they had no chance or choice. In that sense, we're fortunate that there's now a vaccine available and if those people had a choice, do you think they would have taken it knowing that the alternative was almost certain death? Sadly, we know people who have died from the coronavirus and many of our clients (especially with family in India) have suffered the loss of a loved one from it as well. Perhaps if you know someone, it also puts it into context for you to make your own decision about vaccination.

Let's be clear though, this position certainly doesn't make us "pro-vax" and we certainly wouldn't be labeling anyone who disagrees as "anti-vax". Right now, we're just assessing the current situation for what it is with a view to formulating a clear position and a path to move forward. That's how we can best help everyone else around us make their own decision and plan ahead as well.

Doing our bit

We acknowledge that vaccination doesn't actually mean immunity, but it does give the community a fighting chance against infection or possibly spreading it. Of course, being fully vaccinated doesn't stop us from following other practices like social distancing, wearing masks, or disinfecting the office - it just helps.

Our office policy to ensure that all of our staff have been fully vaccinated is not only in their best interest, but yours too - and it doesn't just end there. It protects us and our family, them and their family, and you and your family or anyone who just so happens to come into contact with any of us along the way. The last thing we would want is for your visit to our office to have long-lasting serious health consequences for anyone.

Of course, if you choose not to vaccinate, that's your own decision as well and we don't specifically have a problem with that either - that's your own choice. It just means that with the way things are going, we might not be able to help you if the services that you need also require you to be physically present in our office. That's not just for your own safety, but also for our own and our staff (and all our families etc - anyway, you get the point). If the services that you need don't require you to be physically present in our office, then it doesn't really matter whether you're vaccinated or not. Many of our services can still be done online, as we've pointed out several times in this blog. Services such as certifying or verifying and certifying certain documents can still happen without you coming to the office, but if you need us to witness you sign a document or you need us to verify your identity, then this would require you to be physically present in our office and therefore, vaccinated.

Get ready

So while it hasn't been confirmed as yet and as mentioned we're waiting on the next round of state and federal government announcements on the matter, we're just asking everyone who plans on visiting us for notary public services once the restrictions have been lifted, to prepare themselves accordingly. As you may know, the vaccination process from the first dose to the second dose does take a few weeks and so it would be necessary to plan that in advance to ensure that you're fully vaccinated by the time Sydney is open for business. Even if the government (or we) do not impose mandatory vaccination, isn't it in your best interest anyway? Just something to consider.