The Federal Government is rolling out a $20 million program to strengthen vaccination rates among home care workers as vaccine boosters open up for residential aged care and disability facilities.
As reported above, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has finally recommended a national framework be established for the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement for in-home and community care, with just over two weeks until the deadline for an initial dose.
The grants of up to $48,000 will help home care providers increase and report on vaccination rates among their workers, with approximately 85% of the 116,000 home care workers across Australia having received a first dose and 69.5% a second dose as at 4 November.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, says the program will assist providers in ensuring their clients’ safety.
“Although we are seeing a great take up of the vaccination in older Australians, with almost 92 per cent of people over 70 having received two doses, it is imperative this workforce is vaccinated to minimise the risk of COVID-19 entering the homes of vulnerable seniors,” he said.
The Government has also opened up third booster doses of vaccine to all Australians 18 and over who received their second dose at least six months ago, with Pfizer preferred irrespective of which jab they initially received. Residential aged care and disability facilities will be the initial focus, with booster shots delivered via in-reach clinics.
Minister Hunt says more than 151 million Pfizer, Novavax and Moderna vaccines have already been secured for future supply.
“In the context of boosters, it is important people know that two doses of COVID-19 vaccine provide very good protection, especially against severe disease.
“A booster dose, six or more months after the second dose, will make sure that the protection from the first doses is even stronger and longer lasting and should help prevent spread of the virus,” he said.
More than 173,000 boosters had already been completed as of Saturday.
