Grevillea Gardens named worst aged care for vaccination rates in Gympie

With the deadline looming for aged care workers to get vaccinated, one centre stuck out as having the worst rate in Gympie. See how all the region’s facilities stacked up.

Aged care centres across the Gympie region are at risk of facing major staffing shortages when the deadline for workers to be vaccinated rolls around next month.

The shocking new data released by the Health Department detailed the vaccination rate of every aged care facility in the country, including the four facilities located in the Gympie region.

Grevillea Gardens Aged Care Facility in Gympie scored the lowest in the region with only 20-29 per cent of workers to have had at least one dose of the Covid vaccine.

Grevillea Gardens on the Southside has recorded the lowest vaccination rate for its workers.

The Grevillea Gardens centre also featured on the list of the worst vaccination rates recorded for Queensland ranging from fewer than 10 per cent to 39 per cent.

Those nursing homes that have a low percentage of their staff vaccinated against Covid-19, have until September 17 for the workers to get the jab or lose their jobs.

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Operation Covid Shield boss Lieutenant-General John Frewen has promised to fast-track the vaccination program to ensure aged care workers receive a vaccine before then.

“Vaccination of aged care workers is a priority for government and this will be an effective tool in working with aged care providers to ensure the residential aged care workforce gets a jab by the middle of September,” Lieutenant Frewen said.

“The aged care sector has been fully engaged in getting its workforce vaccinated and the task force will continue to work with them to achieve this end.”

Beating Grevillea Gardens in the vaccination race was Gympie Views Residential Care Service with 50-59 per cent of their workers having had at least one dose and Residency by Dillons in Tin Can Bay with 70-79 per cent.

Heading for first place was Cooinda Aged Care Centre and St Vincent's Care Services, with both centres recording 80-89 per cent.

The interactive map on the federal health website details the rate every facility in Australia and will be updated weekly with the data that providers report.