NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says delay in aged care coronavirus vaccinations ‘frustrating’

Gladys Berejiklian has expressed her frustration with the slow pace of the federal government’s coronavirus vaccination rollout.

The NSW Premier has said it’s “frustrating” aged care vaccinations haven’t progressed further after the coronavirus spread into several Victorian nursing homes.

Aged care workers and a nursing home resident are among the Victorians who have tested positive to the coronavirus amid an ongoing outbreak that has caused the state to go into lockdown.

Four nursing homes have been connected to the outbreak, including the Arcare aged care centre in western Melbourne.

That facility was sent into lockdown after two workers and a resident were infected. One of the workers, and the resident, were only partly vaccinated.

A worker at a different nursing home, the Blue Cross Western Gardens in Sunshine, also tested positive.

Although the aged care sector was included in the group given the highest priority for coronavirus vaccines, the commonwealth government revealed last week that dozens of Victorian facilities had yet to receive a single dose.

The NSW Premier has said it’s ‘frustrating’ aged care vaccinations haven’t progressed further after the coronavirus spread into several Victorian nursing homes. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Out of 598 residential aged care facilities in the state, only 361 were considered fully vaccinated as of last Wednesday.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said 29 facilities had not received a single dose.

“It’s always frustrating when things don’t happen as they should,” Gladys Berejiklian said on Monday when asked for her thoughts on the federal government’s slow vaccination pace.

“I hope to goodness that the vast majority of our aged care residents are receiving the vaccine in a timely way.

“We can’t be complacent, whether we’re talking about Victoria and NSW or anywhere else. Protecting the most vulnerable has always been a key strategy during (the pandemic) and we can’t stop now.”

Victoria has been battling a new coronavirus outbreak. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Ms Berejiklian urged eligible NSW residents to get their jabs as soon as possible.

“It’s absolutely a sense of urgency – please don’t be complacent,” she said.

“Please don’t assume you can wait. We don’t know what’s around the corner with the vaccine, we’ve already seen supplies disrupted.”

Ms Berejiklian also said she hadn’t changed her mind on keeping the border with Victoria open because the lockdown would prevent most Victorian from leaving their homes and travelling north.