With the 17 September mandatory vaccine deadline approaching, 19,000 aged care workers nationwide have been vaccinated in the past seven days.
Nationally, as at yesterday, of the total 278,268 residential aged care workers reported by providers, 187,102 are reported as having received a first dose (67%). Of these, 128,031 are reported as having received two doses (46%).
This represents a 6% increase in seven days. Federal Government has provided a variety of ways for aged care workers to have access to a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine through their workplace at onsite clinics or nearby hubs. The Department of Health urges aged care workers to talk to their manager or employer about the options available.
The latest figures show:
- In New South Wales, of 83,202 workers reported by providers, 59,391 have received a first dose (71%), of which 42,325 have received two doses (51%).
- In Victoria, of 76,350 workers reported by providers, 56,385 have received a first dose (74%), of which 39,975 have received two doses (52%).
- In Queensland, of 51,945 workers reported by providers, 31,414 have received a first dose (60%), of which 19,755 have received two doses (38%).
- In South Australia, of 28,401 workers reported by providers, 18,463 have received a first dose (65%), of which 12,207 have received two doses (43%).
- In Western Australia, of 26,382 workers reported by providers, 13,826 have received a first dose (52%), of which 8,434 have received two doses (32%).
- In Tasmania, of 7,918 workers reported by providers, 4,804 have received a first dose (60%), of which 3,485 have received two doses (44%).
- In the ACT, of 3,138 workers reported by providers, 2,071 have received a first dose (66%), of which 1,246 have received two doses (40%).
- In the Northern Territory, of 932 workers reported by providers, 748 have received a first dose (80%), of which and 604 have received two doses (65%).
There will be an added incentive for providers to encourage workers to be vaccinated from next Monday – the Department will begin publishing staff and resident vaccination rates in individual aged care homes in a bid to drive vaccination rates.
The Government has also told providers that the 17 September deadline won’t be extended – with around 100,000 still waiting on a jab, there is more work to be done.
