The Queensland government’s health department is working to encourage the about 7,000 staff who missed the state mandated Oct. 1 deadline to get their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. A Queensland Health spokesperson told The Courier Mail that they are working through about 1,900 applications for exemptions from Queensland Health and Hospital Services staff who don’t want to be vaccinated. After attempting to encourage staff to be vaccinated, the spokesperson said Queensland Health would “work with these staff to explore alternative options to keep them and our workplaces safe.” “We are currently working through the exemptions process and staff will be notified of outcome of their exemption once this is complete,” the spokesperson said. That said, the vast majority of the state’s health work force—about 108,000 out of 115,000— have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to The Courier Mail. The unvaccinated health staff now …