The call comes as a mandatory vaccination deadline hits all workers in South Australia’s public in private hospitals today. They are now required to have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

A broader mandate is set to come into force for GPs, dental clinics, private nurse offices, pharmacies, private pathology and radiology centres and specialist outpatient facilities next Monday, while SA Police officers will be required to show evidence of receiving a vaccine from November 15.

But Business SA CEO Martin Haese today said the State Government mandate should be expanded to frontline sectors and industries where social distancing is not possible.

“Part of the reason why South Australia has held it together so well during these challenging times is due to maintaining a connection between the employer and employee,” he said.

“Without a broader industry vaccination mandate to give employers clarity and assist with reaching 90 per cent double vaccination by Christmas, we risk losing South Australia’s key advantage of having led the country in managing the virus to date.

“We recognise that not everyone will support a broader sector-specific vaccine mandate, but with over 80 per cent of South Australia already having had their first dose, those in opposition are definitely in the minority.”

Business SA director of policy and advocacy Andrew McKenna said parts of the business community had expressed concerns about jeopardising relationships with employees.

“The South Australian economy is built on the shoulders of small-to-medium-sized businesses, and they are the ones that are interacting daily with their staff,” Mckenna said.

“They don’t want to jeopardise that relationship by mandating vaccines in any additional sectors without a clear direction from the State Government.”