Channel 7 announced last week that personnel on Home and Away will not be able to return to work until they have been double-vaccinated against Covid-19.
Abbie Chatfield, a vaccination advocate, and influencer had a caustic retort to the soap’s anti-vaxxer actor Sam Frost this week.
Abbie merely commented ‘Oop’ on her Instagram Stories after learning that the reality TV star-turned-actress, 32, would lose her job owing to her hardline stance.
The brief but venomous remark appeared beneath a TV Week headline implying that the mandate was implemented in response to Sam’s controversial video declaring that she would not be getting the vaccine.
Abbie, 26, is a passionate vaccination supporter who has previously chastised Sam for refusing to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Seven West Media’s Director of Production, Andrew Backwell, sent an email to staff advising them that the network “would only engage fully vaccinated presenters, actors, and crew.”
To continue working at Seven Productions, which produces Home and Away, employees will need to be double-vaccinated starting January 10.
‘To ensure the safest possible work environment for cast, crew, and presenters, Seven Productions has made the decision to only engage those who are completely vaccinated against Covid-19,’ a spokeswoman for the network told the Herald Sun on Friday.
Seven strongly encourages vaccination to protect our people, their colleagues, and their families.’
The mandate is likely to affect Sam, 32, who previously revealed she was not vaccinated, however, the network would not comment on specific individuals.
‘We will not comment or speculate on the vaccination status of individuals,’ a Seven spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.
The former Bachelorette star’s Instagram account was deactivated on October 9, only days after she revealed in a tearful video that she was unvaccinated and that her mental health had suffered as a result of others’ ‘judging’ her.
Since 2017, the actress, who has played nurse Jasmine Delaney on Home and Away, has advocated for a more accepting attitude toward unvaccinated Australians.
‘I was really hesitant about doing a video or even speaking up about this sort of thing, but I feel like it’s getting to a point now in the world where there’s a lot of segregation,’ she said in the video.
‘There’s a lot of harsh judgment and opinions being thrown around a lot and it’s taking its toll on my mental health for sure, and I know people around me are struggling – particularly if they’re on the side of they don’t want to get vaccinated, for whatever reason.
‘There are many different reasons why people do not get vaccinated, and it might be because of their medical history, their worries, their family history, or religious beliefs.’
Sam then claimed she hadn’t been vaccinated, but that she had discussed her option with her medical doctor and a psychologist; nevertheless, it is known she does not have a genuine medical exemption.
‘It’s a really hard moment to be in society right now, and you feel like you’re less of a human, and you feel like others criticize you,’ she continued bitterly.
‘And you’re too scared to talk about your opinion or your feelings and part of you wants to go, “Well, it’s none of your damn business why I’m not! And there are good reasons why I’m not and I don’t want you to judge me”.’
She explained that it was critical for the unvaccinated to take care of their mental health, especially as fully vaccinated Australians regain their freedoms.
‘I’m struggling a lot with my mental health and I like to think that I’m pretty on to it. I see a psychologist regularly. So I can’t imagine what it’s like for people who don’t have a support network around them,’ she said.
She also warned that coming out publicly as unvaccinated could get her in jeopardy, before imploring people to treat one another with greater respect and compassion.
Her video sparked a firestorm of criticism, largely due to her use of the word “segregation” to describe how society “judges” unvaccinated people.
‘Segregation’ is typically used to describe societies that are divided due to race, religion, or sexual orientation.
‘Seven actively advocates vaccination for all of our people, and all Seven productions absolutely adhere to the public health Covid-19 safe procedures,’ a representative for the network stated shortly after.
‘All Home and Away cast and crew also undertake Covid-19 testing three times a week in addition to other preventative measures.
‘Sam Frost continues to work on Home and Away and follows the safety protocols in place.’
Sam took to Instagram on Wednesday to thank her loved ones, including her coworkers, and to express her gratitude for the support and love’ she’d received.
‘Thank you for the enormous amount of support and love over the past few weeks,’ she began in a post on Instagram Stories.
‘I received thousands and thousands of beautiful messages and emails. I appreciate it, more than you’ll ever know.
‘Incredibly grateful for my friends, family, and work colleagues who held my hand through the storm, and loved me unconditionally. Kindness always wins. With all of my heart, thank you.’