Two Melbourne health clinics have been forced to close and staff warned not to wear scrubs to avoid being targeted by protestors, who “physically and verbally abused” workers on their way to the centres. 

The CBD vaccination hub run by non-profit cohealth provides COVID-19 vaccines to around 200 homeless and vulnerable Melburnians every day.

cohealth chief executive Nicole Bartholomeusz said closing the centre until at least Monday, along with a drop-in health centre, was a “difficult decision” but had to be made for the safety of staff and clients in the wake of ongoing protests in the city.

“I am distressed to report that there have been several incidents of cohealth health workers in the city being physically and verbally abused while on their way to work, targeted because they were wearing their cohealth identification,” she said in a statement.