Vaccination program across 80 aged care facilities was now complete

The National Cabinet has mandated aged care workers must be vaccinated against Covid, but North Coast aged care residents are already protected.

Residents of 80 North Coast aged care facilities are now fully vaccinated. NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

An important milestone was reached last week, with the completion of the vaccination program for all 80 residential aged care facilities (RACFs) on the North Coast.

Healthy North Coast said residents began receiving the first of their two required jabs in February, and the final doses were given last Friday (June 25).

Healthy North Coast helped facilitate the vaccine rollout, working closely with the Australian Government, vaccine providers and RACFs to make the process as smooth as possible.

Healthy North Coast Chief Executive, Julie Sturgess, said older, vulnerable people living in RACFs could now feel safe and their lives could return to some form of normality.

‘The relief being felt by residents, their families and staff upon completion of the process is significant,’ Ms Sturgess said.

The news comes as the National Cabinet moved to mandate Covid vaccinations for aged care workers.

Healthy North Coast said currently the region has 20–30 per cent of RACF staff vaccinated (depending on the RACF), which was slightly under the national average of 31 per cent.

And while the Federal Government mandate meant aged care workers needed to receive their first vaccination by mid-September, the completion of North Coast aged care residents’ vaccinations meant they were already protected.

Ms Sturgess said: “Implementing the rollout has been an extensive logistic exercise by the Australian Government and its contracted vaccination providers. Getting schedules right, organising vaccination teams, arranging vaccine deliveries and supplies from Sydney to arrive on the right day has been a huge undertaking”.

“Although there were hiccups in the beginning and some along the way, the teams from International SOS and Healthcare Australia delivered safe, responsive, professional programs. Any issues were dealt with promptly by the vaccination providers.”

She thanked RACF workers for their patience and dedication during the vaccine rollout, and local GPs and the Local Health Districts, who supported the process.

On the North Coast, more than 118,000 vaccinations have now been given, meaning around 24 per cent of the region’s population have received one or more doses.