Majority of frontline workers still waiting for vaccine: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation

Aged care workers in one state have begged the Premier to take over the vaccine rollout, with huge numbers still waiting for their jab.

A large majority of frontline workers are still waiting for their COVID-19 vaccination, according to the Victorian union for nurses, midwives and personal care workers. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

A large majority of frontline workers are still waiting for their COVID-19 vaccination, according to the Victorian union for nurses, midwives and personal care workers.

In a survey taken over the Easter long weekend, 86 per cent of Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) private aged care members – nurses and personal care workers – in Victoria said they were yet to get the jab.

They called on the federal government to “urgently ask the Andrews government to take on the vaccination program for the Commonwealth’s phase 1a private aged care workforce”.

Of the small group who had been vaccinated, most had grown tired of waiting for the promise of a workplace vaccination and arranged their own jab through their private GP, the ANMF said.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation says Prime Minister Scott Morrison has abandoned private aged care nurses and personal care workers. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Victorian Branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said vaccinations in aged care needed to be prioritised following the hundreds of deaths in the sector last year.

“The Morrison Government has abandoned private aged care nurses, personal care workers and other staff,” she said.

“They saw Prime Minister Scott Morrison receive his vaccination seven weeks ago and thought the government cared about them because they were included in the most at-risk phase 1a category.

“For staff to be told to organise their own vaccination makes a mockery of their importance as a 1a priority cohort.”

The data comes amid a pause in administering the AstraZenca vaccine to people under 50 in Victoria.

The pause, announced last week, followed advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) after blood clotting concerns were linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Acting Premier James Merlino said the state government had asked the commonwealth to divert AstraZeneca vaccines en route to Victoria over the next fortnight to be sent to GPs instead. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

Victorian acting premier James Merlino on Monday said the state government had asked the commonwealth to divert AstraZeneca vaccines en route to Victoria over the next fortnight to GPs instead.

This way GPs can administer the jab, particularly to older age groups such as those over 70.

“We’ve got enough AstraZeneca to deliver what we need to deliver,” Mr Merlino told reporters.

“GPs are calling out for more, so this is a commonsense approach to get this thing done as quickly as possible.

“It’s a pretty simple equation – the more vaccinations that are rolled out, the lower the risk in the community.

“We want to see this done as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The federal government’s Department of Health has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Majority of frontline workers still waiting for vaccine: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation