Operation Borders-style jab plan

The Prime Minister has appointed Lieutenant-General John Frewen to lead a powerful new national Covid-19 vaccination taskforce.

Lieutenant-General John Frewen. Picture: Kym Smith

Scott Morrison has appointed Lieutenant-General John Frewen to lead a powerful new national Covid-19 vaccination taskforce under an “Operation Sovereign Borders” model, integrating multiple government departments, agencies and stakeholders to maintain the record pace of inoculations across the country.

The Prime Minister, state and territory leaders on Friday also ordered the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee to devise an urgent plan to implement mandatory vaccination of aged-care and disability workers. With 20 per cent adults having received their first Covid-19 jab and the country on track to hit 5 million doses by the end of the week, the Morrison government has moved to fast-track vaccine supply to reach more Australians.

National cabinet agreed to expand access to vaccines from next Tuesday, with Pfizer jabs to be made available for all Australians aged 40-49, and vaccines ensured for Indigenous Australians and people on the NDIS and their associated carers over the age of 16. Temporary visa holders under 50 who have been approved for return travel to Australia under exemptions will also be eligible.

Health Minister Greg Hunt also announced the commonwealth would increase the supply of vaccines to Victoria in response to a vaccination spike in the state, fuelled by the latest outbreak. In the 24 hours to Friday, a daily record 143,659 doses were delivered taking the overall number to more than 1 million in 10 days.

The elevation of Lt-Gen Frewen – a former acting head of the Australian Signals Directorate who led the Australian Defence Force’s Operation Covid-19 Assist – adds to the role of Commodore Eric Young, appointed under Mr Morrison’s “war footing” to manage vaccine supply and distribution.

Mr Morrison said Lt-Gen Frewen – who will assume responsibilities held by retiring Department of Health associate secretary Caroline Edwards – would have direct operational control of government departments involved in the national vaccination program.

“This change gives us the opportunity to step up another gear. Some years ago … there was an operation called Operation Sovereign Borders … a completely new organisational structure … for getting a whole-of-government effect on a very big problem,” he said. “It worked … and I think moving (to) that footing now will further improve how we’re working in the vaccination program.

“Lieutenant-General Frewen will have direct operational control across numerous government departments for the direction of the national vaccination program and all of those working in that program, from communications to dealings with states, to the distribution and delivery of vaccines … and the ramp-up … working with the GPs, pharmacists and others.”

Mr Morrison and national cabinet leaders on Friday asked the AHPPC, made up of federal, state and territory chief health and medical officers, to work up a plan to vaccinate the aged-care and disability workforce, following recent breaches in Victoria.

The national cabinet statement said all leaders had indicated an “in-principle disposition to mandating aged-care and disability workforce Covid vaccinations”.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly urged all aged-care workers to get vaccinated and said authorities were doing everything to make vaccines available to frontline staff. “We need to balance that unintended consequence potentially of affecting the workforce in our aged-care facilities, of course. And we saw this last year when large numbers of workers were furloughed because of contact with Covid-19,” he said.

After consultation with the aged-care sector, Mr Hunt said from June 15 mandatory reporting of all aged-care worker vaccinations would be in place. Aged and Community Services Association chair Sara Blunt welcomed the “in-principle disposition” of governments towards mandatory vaccinations for aged-care workers.