Mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers continues the state's approach to vaccinations in health settings, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has told a court.
Dr Chant testified in support of the public health order being challenged by an unvaccinated paramedic said to object on moral, religious and political grounds to COVID-19 vaccines.
The state's top doctor, whose advice led to the vaccine order, said her concern was the risks and consequences of outbreaks in hospitals and, more broadly, putting protections in other healthcare settings.
"This is a longstanding approach NSW Health has had in relation to considerations of vaccination in the health workforce," she said on Thursday.
Tumut paramedic John Larter is seeking declaratory relief to allow him to work unvaccinated as long as he is wearing appropriate personal protective equipment or working remotely.
His lawyer said the sacking of healthcare workers who contentiously object is a permanent effect of the temporary COVID-19 storm.
"The nature of a public health power is to provide extraordinary powers in extraordinary circumstances, and only for those extraordinary circumstances," barrister Shane Prince SC said on Wednesday.
"It is not to put in place a regime that will apply once the storm has passed."
Mr Prince sought to differentiate his client from teachers who failed in October to overturn a public health order that requires them to be vaccinated to work in state-run schools.
In that case, the court found the order applicable to teachers and nurses were not vaccine mandates but restrictions on movement.
Unlike teachers, paramedics and other healthcare workers were required to be vaccinated whether they worked in high-risk areas, in a clerical capacity or from home, Mr Prince said.
"There is no reason he can't provide training to people by video and the like and be accommodated. But the terms of this order don't provide for that," he said.
Mr Prince described his client as an adherent to the Roman Catholic faith who considers himself to be a political conservative.
"It's his religious, moral and political views that makes him feel he is unable to take the vaccine as he finds it morally repugnant," he said.
With more than 92 per cent of NSW residents over the age of 16 having had at least one dose, it was a "terrible thing" that people like Mr Larter were stuck in a small minority because of their religious beliefs.
"It's not something that ... is dealt with by coercion for vaccination, in the same way a person who is medically unable ... cannot be vaccinated regardless of any attempt of coercion," he said.
The case is being heard by Justice Christine Adamson.
All barristers and solicitors in court on Thursday were fully vaccinated, the court was told.
Mr Larter was said to be watching via the court's YouTube live stream.
