Wait continues for residents in city’s aged care facilities

A number of Toowoomba aged care facilities have had their COVID-19 vaccination sessions postponed, with the Department of Health and its contracted facilitator yet to provide alternate dates.

Week one of the phase 1a vaccination roll out has come and gone, and Toowoomba’s aged care facilities are still waiting on word of the delivery.

After providing assurances that the city would receive its first doses of the phase 1a COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine last week, the Department of Health has now said delays are expected.

“There had been some reports out of New South Wales and Queensland where facilities which had expected to be vaccinated today have not been,” a Department of Health spokeswoman said yesterday.

“That is because one provider slowed down their rollout in response to a demand from the department that they provide an absolute guarantee of clinical certainty and quality.

“Facilities who have their rollout schedule postponed can expect to be contacted by the relevant vaccination provider to reschedule.”

Last week, a Department of Health spokesman said some schedule changes were linked to vaccine delivery.

“The Department notes that last minute changes to the schedule have been made in some instances to accommodate vaccine delivery windows, consent arrangements at the residential aged care facility and cold chain management,” the Department of Health spokesman said.

A separate health care provider is facilitating the rollout in other Australian states, which remain on track with their deliveries.

The Department of Health did not give an update on when the city could expect to receive its first doses.

President of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia Dr John Hall said it was vital regional areas received fair access to the vaccine.

“We’re calling on the government to ensure that they do have the logistic capacity to push these vaccines out into regional and rural areas,” Dr Hall said.

“It’s something that they did commit to and we hope that they would fulfil this commitment.”