Almost two-thirds of South Australian ambulance staff are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, despite being part of the initial phases of the immunisation program.
Under questioning in budget estimates, Health Minister Stephen Wade said 35 per cent of South Australian Ambulance Service (SAAS) workers had received both shots of vaccine and 41 per cent had been given a first dose.
"I know that SAAS is continuing to offer vaccinations to its employees. I am confident that they will continue to work with their employees to provide opportunities to be vaccinated," Mr Wade said.
"I do not have line of sight as to how many people have been vaccinated through their GPs and have not notified their SA Health employer."
Many ambulance and paramedic service staff are deemed frontline healthcare workers and have been eligible to get their jabs since February.
Last week, 12 SAAS staff were forced into quarantine after potentially being exposed to the COVID positive case that sparked the Modbury outbreak.
Vaccinations rates among staff working in the state's local health networks also fluctuate.
"It varies between 47 per cent and 82 per cent," Mr Wade said.
"I would hasten to add that not all SA Health employees may choose to have their vaccination done through a workplace immunisation clinic."
Out of the near 1,000 people who work in South Australia's hotel quarantine system, 17 per cent are not fully vaccinated.
"The medi-hotel pathway is obviously a workplace where there is a constant turnover of staff," Mr Wade said.
"So staff may well have received their first vaccination but not be fully vaccinated."
As revealed by the ABC earlier this week, from Wednesday vaccinations will be mandatory for all South Australian workers in so-called red zones, where they may come into contact with people who could have COVID-19.
The parliamentary committee was also told the hotel quarantine program cost taxpayers $85 million last financial year, despite moving to a cost recovery model.
While $18.5 million in payments have been received, there are $17.9 million outstanding.
