‘Absolute mess’: Aged care residents and staff being ‘kept in the dark’ on COVID vaccine rollout

One of the state’s biggest aged care providers reveals it has had no staff or residents vaccinated against COVID-19, as anger and anxiety grows about the delayed vaccination rollout.

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THE delayed rollout of the COVID vaccine for thousands of older Tasmanians and people with disability is causing anxiety and anger, advocates say.

One of southern Tasmania’s biggest aged care providers, Glenview Community Services at Glenorchy, has had no staff or residents vaccinated.

Advocacy Tasmania chief executive Leanne Groombridge said many people were on “tenterhooks” waiting for information about when they would be vaccinated and which vaccine they would have.

Advocacy Tasmania CEO Leanne Groombridge.

“They’re in limbo waiting for some word on when they and their support staff will be getting the vaccine,” Ms Groombridge said.

“The lack of vaccination rollout activity, coupled with government advice that over 50s will be having AstraZenica is creating great anxiety.

“It is not just those in aged care facilities or group homes who are worried, but also the thousands of older people and those living with disability who live within the community.

“Some have chosen not to have staff come into their homes to provide much-needed support as their support workers haven’t been able to access the vaccine.

“To see these vulnerable people so anxious is harrowing.”

Advocacy Tasmania started visiting aged care residents across the state to explain the rollout and some were worried about which vaccine they would have.

Ms Groombridge said people wanted to have the Pfizer vaccine given that so many had underlying health issues.

“These fears have been compounded by media focus on increased visitors to the state,” she said.

“It may seem that life has returned to normal for many Tasmanians but this is far from the case for the elderly and those living with disability.”

Glenview Community Services CEO Lucy O’Flaherty. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Glenview Community Services chief executive Lucy O’Flaherty said none of her 300 staff had been vaccinated and only half of all residents had a date for their first jab.

“Staff want to do the right thing and be vaccinated but as an industry we’re not getting any information about when this will happen,” Ms O’Flaherty said.

“The silence really is deafening on what is happening.

“Staff are concerned and frustrated and 77 per cent of them are (aged) under 50.”

Ms O’Flaherty said staff working in community care in people’s homes should be a priority.

“We provide home care services and see 400 people a day and I’m not aware of any staff having their vaccination,” she said.

HACSU assistant secretary Robbie Moore. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Health and Community Services Union assistant secretary Robbie Moore said about 10,000 Tasmanians worked in the aged care and disability sectors.

“It is an absolute mess and I am angry that they are being kept in the dark,” Mr Moore said.

“Only one disability organisation has had vaccinations and other than that one, the industry has been ignored by the Federal Government.

“There is no communication from the government to workers in both aged care and disability services and no one knows what’s going on.

“Staff in both aged care and disability services are totally confused because originally they were advised that they would be the first people to get vaccinated.”

Mr Moore said staff at some aged care homes had managed to be vaccinated if there were vaccines left over so they were not thrown out.

Tasmania points the way in COVID vaccine rollout

TASMANIA is the best-performing state in Australia for its rollout of coronavirus vaccines in state-run clinics, new data has revealed.

A report released by the Commonwealth shows the state had fully used the vaccines it had been delivered during the first six weeks of the rollout.

Tasmania’s effort to vaccinate the population against COVID-19 started in February, with clinics initially set up at the state’s three major hospitals in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.

It has expanded to community vaccination clinics, including at Kingston, Brighton and New Norfolk in the state’s south and at Mowbray in the north.

READ MORE: COVID-19 vaccine arrival points Tassie in new direction

Dr Tim Jackson with his practice’s COVID-19 vaccines. Picture: Zak Simmonds

As of Sunday, 23,727 doses of the vaccine had been delivered in state clinics, meaning Tasmania had fully used the supply it received in the first six weeks of the program.

Only the ACT had also achieved this measure, while other states and territories had used between 57 and 82 per cent of their available doses.

Meanwhile, 5520 doses had been administered in residential aged care and disability settings, a Commonwealth responsibility.

A further 16,308 jabs had been given in general practitioners, Aboriginal community controlled health services, and GP respiratory clinics.

Overall, there had been 45,555 doses of the vaccine delivered in Tasmania at April 11.

Dr Tim Jackson, chair of the Tasmanian faculty of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said the report showed Tasmania had been more organised than other states so far.

Dr Jackson said GPs had been working closely with the state government to determine their own capacity and any need for referrals to state clinics.

“I think it’s going as well as we can expect it to,” he said.

“I know there’s over 100 GP practices that have come online and more waiting to come online, but the major problem at the moment is lack of availability of the vaccine.”

Dr Jackson said there was generally a positive feeling among those being vaccinated.

“I think most people are grateful and reassured they are able to get it at their GP,” he said.

“The main thing is people can be reassured there’s no community transmission (of coronavirus) at the moment, so we need to take things slowly and steadily to get it right, rather than rushing.”

Clinical nurse consultant Nikki Lane delivers one of the state’s first COVD vaccinations on March 9. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tasmanian Vaccination Emergency Operations Centre commander Dale Webster said a further 1813 doses had been delivered on April 12, bringing the state’s total to 47,368.

“While the news last week about AstraZeneca has had some impact, it is well within our manageable levels,” he said.

“Our main target at the moment is to reach the over 70 age group where they are unable to access a GP-delivered vaccine.

“Over the next few weeks we are expecting to receive between 7000 and 9000 doses per week for state clinics and GPs will have access to around 10,000 doses per week, which means we are well on the way to getting Tasmanians vaccinated and protected.”

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