The Federal Government is creating a surge workforce to vaccinate almost half-a-million aged care residents, staff and volunteers against COVID-19 as soon as the Pfizer vaccine is made available in Australia.
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the Morrison Government is working with a number of medical companies to allow for vaccinations to take place in aged care homes.
“The Commonwealth will be responsible for the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to the residential aged care facility sites,” the Department said.
“The Commonwealth’s procured surge workforce will prepare and administer the COVID-19 vaccine directly at a residential aged care facility to residents and workers.”
The Federal plan estimates around 217,000 aged care residents, 250,000 staff and about 60,000 volunteers will be vaccinated, with each person assessed on an individual basis before being given the vaccine.
All of these groups fall into Phase 1A of the vaccine rollout, which also includes quarantine workers and frontline healthcare workers.
Meanwhile, older Australians aged over 70 – who fall into group 1B – who don’t live in aged care and those living in retirement villages will be required to visit a vaccination centre or GP in order to receive the jab.
