More Covid outbreaks emerge at local aged care homes
Doctors have revealed the reasons underpinning booster hesitancy, reiterating the importance of getting a third Covid jab. It comes as Barwon Health flagged a major change in vaccine delivery.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Barwon Health has revealed it is planning to transition from the vaccination hub at the former Ford site in Norlane to a longer term site at the South Barwon Civic Centre in Belmont next month.
It’s believed the community vaccination hub at Norlane, which opened in April 2021, is likely to close.
Associate Professor Dan O’Brien, a Barwon Health infectious diseases specialist, said as of Monday, 75 per cent of people aged 16 and over in the Barwon South West region had received a third Covid-19 vaccination dose, while more than 95 per cent had two doses.
“We have observed some vaccine hesitancy in the community, with some people believing their two doses are enough protection against Covid,” Associate Professor O’Brien said.
“There is also a perception in the community that the risks of Covid are lessened given extensive public health restrictions are no longer in place.
“We need to improve the community understanding that there are additional benefits from the third dose, which offers strong protection from severe disease, as well as its ongoing benefits in reducing transmission.”
Western Victoria Primary Health Network clinical spokeswoman Anne Stephenson said the number of people who received a Covid-19 booster had been lower than first and second doses, and this appeared to be driven by a degree of hesitancy.
“Hesitancy can arise from a number of factors,” Dr Stephenson said.
“Some people assume that once infected they are immune to Covid-19 and there is no need for a booster.
“While natural infection does provide a degree of immunity, the level of immunity can vary depending on the level of infection.
“People can become reinfected quite quickly and many people are reporting that the second case can result in more severe symptoms.”
She said it was very important that people get booster shots for Covid-19.
“With so many people currently infected, lots of people also seem to be resigned to getting Covid-19 and may view further vaccination as pointless,” she said.
“Throughout the community people are suffering from pandemic fatigue, and this has led to complacency for some people about boosters.
“However, we know that Covid-19 will be with us for a long time, and we need to do everything we can to minimise issues down the track.”
On Wednesday, 438 new Covid cases were reported for Greater Geelong,with 83 for the Surf Coast, three for the Borough of Queenscliffe, 49 for Golden Plains and 29 for Colac-Otway.
Victoria recorded 10,907 new coronavirus cases and 14 deaths.
Covid still hitting Geelong’s aged care homes
The region’s public health boss says there has been an increase in people who live in residential aged care testing positive for Covid.
This was in line with an overall upward trend in people testing positive across the region, Barwon South West public health unit director Eugene Athan said.
Professor Athan on Friday said the public health unit team was supporting eight residential aged care facilities across the region in caring for Covid-19 positive residents.
“Part of our response is to assist in providing swift access to oral antiviral treatments for residents in order to minimise the extent of the outbreak as much as possible,” he said.
Figures provided by Barwon Health showed as of Thursday nine Covid-19 deaths had been reported among aged care residents confirmed to have contracted the virus since the start 2022 in the Barwon South West region.
Local facilities were named in a federal government report, released Friday, listing aged care homes with active outbreaks.
According to the report, an outbreak had emerged at The Belmont, with nine residents testing positive.
It comes after the facility, located in Belmont, experienced an outbreak last year.
The Addy attempted to contact provider TLC Aged Care for comment.
Outbreaks were also detected at Calvary Balmoral Grove in Grovedale and Calvary Roccoco in St Albans Park, according to the document.
It saidone resident and 12 staff members at Calvary Balmoral Groveand one resident and a staff member at Calvary Roccoco had tested positive.
“All Calvary homes have Covid safe plans in place,” a spokesman for the provider said.
“All residents have been offered all available vaccinations including boosters.
“Calvary has also recently updated its visitation guidelines to accommodate safe visits in our residential aged care homes, even if the home is in a Covid-19 related outbreak situation.”
Meanwhile, on Saturday, 447 new cases were reported for Greater Geelong, with 90 for the Surf Coast, five for the Borough of Queenscliffe, 44 for Golden Plains and 37 for Colac-Otway.
This was followed by 423 new coronavirus cases reported by the health department for Greater Geelong on Sunday,with 99 for the Surf Coast, onefor the Borough of Queenscliffe, 42 for Golden Plains and 19 for Colac-Otway.
On Saturday 9610 new cases and seven deaths were reported for the state, followed by 9510 new cases and one death on Sunday.
Originally published as More Covid outbreaks emerge at local aged care homes
Men allegedly try to lure girls into car in Barwon Heads
A group of men allegedly tried to lure two young girls into their car in Barwon Heads on Sunday, offering them lollipops and asking for their phone numbers.
Cut 200-game Saint opens up on ‘abrupt’ end as AFL fire still burns
Seb Ross was under no illusions that he was in trouble, but the end still came quick. The former Saint reflects on how it unfolded, his time at the club and what’s next — on and off the field.