An 11th-hour legal bid to have Tasmania's health worker coronavirus vaccination mandate put on hold has failed, but a challenge to the overall direction will likely be heard in court next week.
The state's 16,000 healthcare staff have been ordered to have at least one jab, or have made a booking or provide an exemption, by Sunday.
Any who haven't will have their employment terminated.
On Friday afternoon, Supreme Court of Tasmania Justice Alan Blow threw out an application to have the vaccine mandate temporarily suspended.
Some 500 Tasmanian workers, headed by surgeon David Dunn, have put their name to the legal action.
They say the vaccine mandate breaches the state services act and public health act, and the public health director has exceeded his powers in making the direction.
Justice Blow described the applicant's arguments as remarkably weak.
"I don't think the applicant has shown sufficient prospect of success, so the application for an interlocutory application is refused," he said.
Justice Blow said a hearing would be tentatively listed to begin on Thursday.
Speaking outside court, Dr Dunn said he was very disappointed with the decision to not put the mandate on hold.
"I don't think we're getting justice, but that's just my opinion," he said.
Lawyer Raymond Broomhall, who is representing the health workers, said his legal team would be approaching the hearing "full guns blazing".
"It's a huge battle to fight and you understand the implications this will have for the rest of the country as well," he told reporters.
Mr Broomhall told the court the vaccine mandate was discrimination. Their legal action against the mandate, which was announced in September, was filed this week.
Department of Health secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said on Friday the vast majority of Tasmania's health workers are fully vaccinated and a "few hundred" are yet to get the jab.
Similar legal action against a NSW directive for workers to have the jab was dismissed earlier this month.
Tasmania's government has also mandated vaccinations for disability sector workers, with a November 21 deadline for having at least one jab.
The state has recorded just three COVID-19 cases this year and will open its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from all jurisdictions on December 15.
