The in-reach clinics taking place at aged care facilities throughout the nation have seen the COVID-19 vaccination figures for the workforce hit 83% on Wednesday.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the mandate decision agreed to by State Premiers and Territory leaders in June “has led to a skyrocketing of rates” among full and part-time aged care staff.
Last Thursday, The Weekly Source reported 208,701 aged care workers had received their first dose of vaccine on 25 August. On 1 September, another 16,568 aged care workers had their first jab.
In Question Time on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese asked Prime Minister Scott Morrison whether he would reaffirm his commitment to ensuring all aged care workers would receive at least one vaccination by 17 September.
If the current rate of vaccination continues, 13,283 residential care workers across the nation will remain unvaccinated. However, that figure does not include workers granted exemptions.
NSW became the second last State to mandate a COVID-19 vaccination for all residential aged care workers. Victoria is still in the process of putting its orders in place, to start 16 September 2021. In addition, States are asking for proof that a second dose has been arranged.
Peak bodies Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) and Aged & Community Services Australia announced last week that they had begun a Staff Vaccination Support Service (SVSS) to ensure as many staff as possible were able to meet the vaccine deadline.
“Aged care providers through the AACC (Australian Aged Care Collaboration) continue to work with the Federal Department of Health and the Vaccine Taskforce to ensure all staff have at least one vaccine dose by the 17 September deadline,” said LASA CEO Sean Rooney.
- As at 1 September, of the total 271,688 residential aged care workers reported by providers nationally, 225,269 are reported as having received a first dose COVID-19 vaccine (83%). Of these, 166,599 are reported as fully vaccinated (61%).
- In New South Wales, of 82,797 workers reported by providers, 70,115 have received a first dose (85%), of whom 53,795 have received two doses (65%).
- In Victoria, of 74,218 workers reported by providers, 64,190 have received a first dose (86%), of whom 49,832 have received two doses (67%).
- In Queensland, of 50,770 workers reported by providers, 40,333 have received a first dose (79%), of whom 27,173 have received two doses (54%).
- In South Australia, of 27,674 workers reported by providers, 22,416 have received a first dose (81%), of whom 16,517 have received two doses (60%).
- In Western Australia, of 24,392 workers reported by providers, 19,051 have received a first dose (78%), of whom 12,555 have received two doses (51%).
- In Tasmania, of 7,903 workers reported by providers, 5,719 have received a first dose (72%), of whom 4,391 have received two doses (56%).
- In the ACT, of 3,034 workers reported by providers, 2,654 have received a first dose (87%), of whom 1,648 have received two doses (54%).
- In the Northern Territory, of 900 workers reported by providers, 791 have received a first dose (88%), of whom 688 have received two doses (76%).
