Covid aged care: Nursing homes to have vaccine coverage published

As Covid-19 runs rampant through nursing homes nationwide, operators are on notice for a new government requirement.

Covid-19 vaccine coverage among aged care residents in each facility across the country will be published publicly from next month, under a big-stick federal government plan to ensure the elderly are well protected.

It comes as new data revealed one in every three aged care facilities in Queensland and across the country were battling active Covid-19 outbreaks.

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells on Monday met, virtually, more than 1000 aged care providers in a bid to emphasise the important of staying proactive during the winter Covid-19 wave.

“During the height of January’s wave a provider told me they felt like they were fighting a war, and I can think of dozens who have said something similar in recent weeks,” she said.

“The health and medical advice is clear – our best defence in this fight is vaccines and the swift deployment of antiviral treatments.”

According to the federal government about 70 per cent of aged care residents across the country have received their fourth Covid-19 shot.

But the level of protection across individual aged care facilities will be made known from August 1.

“This will further drive those rates up and reduce the incidence of severe disease, and even death,” Ms Wells said.

It is understood aged care providers were also urged to discuss and “pre-assess” the eligibility of residents to be treated with antiviral Covid-19 medications so the drugs can be administered quicker, thus reducing the severity of illness.

In Queensland, 178 aged care homes out of the state’s 500 facilities were battling active outbreaks as of the week ending July 15 up from 161 the week before.

The biggest issue is staffing levels, with the data showing 270 aged care personnel in Queensland contracted Covid-19 in a week compared to 151 residents.

The Aged Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) on Sunday called for the federal government to extend the presence of the military past the mid-August end date in order to dampen the impact of staff shortages.

Originally published as Covid aged care: Nursing homes to have vaccine coverage published