Families ‘begging’ for Covid-19 boosters for aged care residents as more funding announced

The families of loved ones in aged care homes are “begging managers” for Covid booster shots as the number of elderly dying from the pandemic escalates.

The families of loved ones in aged care homes are “begging managers” for Covid booster shots as the number of elderly dying from the pandemic escalates.

Seven more Queensland aged care residents died on Wednesday, bringing the state’s total aged care death toll to 114 since the pandemic began.

Health minister Yvette D'Ath at a Covid update at 1 William Street, Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said she was “very concerned” about aged care residents not being offered their booster, as well as lagging vaccination rates among the elderly.

Ms D’Ath said she would write to the federal government demanding to know the rate of boosters being given in aged care homes.

“We know 100 per cent of facilities have been visited for vaccinations but we don’t know how many have been visited for boosters and, most importantly, how many residents have received their booster,” she said.

“I’m hearing from people who say they’re begging managers of aged care facilities to bring people in to vaccinate their loved ones for boosters.

“That’s coming at the same time as they start getting Covid-positive cases spreading throughout the facilities.”

A Bulletin report last week revealed Covid-19 continued to rip through aged care residents and staff across the Gold Coast, leaving staff struggling to cope and breaking down at the end of shifts.

Only six of 34 aged care facilities on the Gold Coast had been spared from Covid, with some facilities having as many as 28 employees off and multiple deaths.

The federal government this week announced it would provide up to $800 each to aged care workers to “acknowledge the response” and challenges the long-suffering sector faces.

Workers will get a bonus payment of up to $400 at the end of February, and a second payment of up to $400 to follow at the end of April, if their employer applies for the payment.

United Workers Union Aged Care Director Carolyn Smith previously told the Bulletin the sector was at “breaking point”.

Aged care facilities are at breaking point.

She said the payments were a welcome relief for staff but wouldn’t help long-term.

“The aged care industry is at absolute breaking point, and I am not sure these bonuses will fix the systemic issues in the industry,” she said.

“Aged care workers are struggling with low pay, understaffing and the poor rollout of Covid-19 response by Scott Morrison.

“The fact that workers are still not receiving regular RAT and adequate PPE is indicative of the federal government’s failure in this area.

“Although we do welcome Scott Morrison’s admission that aged care wages need to be substantially improved, something we have been saying for a long time now.”

Follow @JournoBrenn