NSW Health is facing a number of court challenges to its mandatory vaccines, including one by a veteran paramedic who’s described the move as “medical apartheid”.

Paramedic John Larter, of Tumut in the state’s south, is seeking declaratory relief to allow him to continue to work unvaccinated after 30 September as long as he is wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

His case against what he calls “medical apartheid” was before the Supreme Court of NSW for the first time on Friday, when the government pointed to other vaccine mandate challenges it is defending this month.

NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard has told the court it is challenging enough to defend two waves of vaccine mandate challenges, let alone a new one by a veteran paramedic and regional deputy mayor.