Death toll after third Covid-19 vaccine at 100-plus

Just over 100 Australians who had been triple vaccinated have died with Covid-19, according to state figures.

Just over 100 Australians who had been triple vaccinated have died with Covid-19, according to state figures.

The Australian has received a NSW breakdown showing about 60 people who had received a booster shot died while infectious with Covid-19.

The Victorian Health ­Department confirmed that 3.3 per cent of Covid deaths since early ­November – of which there were almost 1000 – were triple vaccinated, for a total of about 30. Queensland’s Health ­Department revealed 16 of 240 people who died since mid-­November were triple vaccinated: a rate of less than 7 per cent.

However, the states could not give ages of those who had died after having a third dose or if they had comorbidities. They also did not say whether the individuals who had received a booster shot died from Covid-19 or while they were ­infectious.

Health Minister Greg Hunt faces pressure to clarify how many of the nation’s aged-care deaths had been triple vaccinated. Mr Hunt said data was collected by the states, which had “not yet provided it” to the commonwealth. Chief medical officer Paul Kelly said a task force would be set up to better collect data from states on such deaths.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is considering whether to change the definition of “fully vaccinated” to mean three doses of a vaccine, rather than two.

A spokesperson for Mr Hunt said vaccinations were of “vital importance” and drastically reduced the likelihood of severe Covid-19 disease, hospitalisation and death. The taskforce would have the goal of obtaining and analysing data in relation to severe cases and mortalities, including in aged care.