NSW ‘blindsided’ by ADF vaccine plan; Service NSW COVID passport

The NSW government was “blindsided” by federal Health Minister Greg Hunt’s call to involve the ADF with the vaccine rollout.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard was “blindsided” by his federal counterpart Greg Hunt’s decision to call in the Australian Defence Force to help vaccinate aged care residents.

Mr Hunt enlisted the ADF to help with the government’s rollout of the vaccine in aged care, with the immunisation plan already behind schedule.

The rollout so far has been plagued by missteps, including an incident where two aged care residents accidentally received four times the recommended dose of the vaccine.

Mr Hazzard said it was “disappointing and problematic” to learn of the ADF involvement via the media.

ADF teams will be tasked with administering doses and be involved with logistics.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard appeared to be completely blindsided by the development when contacted by The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Hazzard said it was “disappointing” to learn of the ADF involvement through the media after it was first reported by Nine News.

“The NSW government will have to seek advice from the federal government as to whether or not what’s being reported in the media is correct,” Mr Hazzard said last night.

“For NSW to plan its roll out, we need to be given the necessary forward plans and information.”

“It’s disappointing and problematic to get the news through the media,” he said.

The ADF involvement is on top of the vaccine program delivering jabs to aged care homes. The initial focus will be on regional and remote locations. It was suggested last night that the federal government had always planned to use defence personnel in its roll out.

VACCINE PASSPORTS COMING TO NSW

NSW citizens are set to use their phones to prove their vaccination status, with ­officials closing in on a ­passport-style plan that could prohibit venue entry to ­people who refuse the jab.

High-level talks are under way between Service NSW and the federal government to plan data-sharing arrangements that would allow people to use the Service NSW app to publicly ­display vaccine certificates.

NSW government figures confirmed finalising this technology was a step closer to indoor venues or events using the vaccine as an entry requirement — a ­measure which they expect businesses such as clubs, ­airlines or entertainment ­venues could enforce.

People will soon be able to show they have gotten their COVID-19 vaccine on their phone. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Government figures are closely watching Israel’s “green pass” program and eyeing the debate over its use to ban people from venues if they have rejected the jab.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian will today announce that the Service NSW app has been downloaded more than four million times, by 75 per cent of the adult population of NSW.

It is an extraordinary digital reach the government expects will only increase if vaccine passport-style data was contained on the app.

Every state will need to institute ways for citizens to display their vaccination record, with those unable to use an app likely to require some sort of printout.

The update is in more recent times tied to the COVID safe check-in arrangements, which have been recorded 117 million times in the state.

Ms Berejiklian said the tech was a game-changer for businesses and customers.

“I want to thank the people of NSW for downloading the Service NSW app more than four million times … which continues to keep our community safe from COVID-19,” she said.

“We are using technology to enhance the user experience and prioritise public safety, and these figures show that citizens have embraced our digital solutions.”

Phase 1a of the nationwide vaccination program has begun. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Health care workers arrive at the vaccination hub at Westmead Hospital. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said more than 80,000 businesses actively used the app.

“We have recently updated the app to enable customers to save the details of their dependants and soon the check-out will be easier for customers, with a new reminder notification around the corner,” he said.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said some 733,000 doses of the Pfizer and ­AstraZeneca vaccines are now in Australia.

He said almost 42,000 doses had been administered across the country, with almost 12,500 of those as part of the NSW rollout. Mr Hunt said he was “confident” that states that have been slow off the mark in administering vaccines will ramp up their ­efforts.