COVID-19 cases in residential aged care homes continue to rise with new strain JN.1 a fresh fear

For the fourth successive week, the number of cases of COVID-19 in residential aged care homes has continued to rise with just 30.7% of residents having received a booster vaccination despite a recommendation from the Department of Health and Aged Care.  The latest figures supplied by the Department reveal there were 2,583 active COVID-19 cases in 413 active outbreaks in residential aged care facilities. Over 50% of the outbreaks (221) are new.  Another 23 residents have died from the virus and there have been 2,413 combined new resident and staff cases reported since 28 December 2023. The Department states it is working with both the aged care and primary care sectors to ensure residents have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. "It continues to target support for residential aged care facilities to arrange COVID-19 vaccinations with local primary care providers such as GPs, community pharmacists and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services," the Department states. However, on 3 January 2024, only 1,616 aged care residents had received a booster dose in the past week.

The Department states "all aged care residents who have not had a COVID-19 vaccination, or a COVID-19 infection within the last 6 months, continue to be offered a 2023 booster dose."  "The added protection from vaccination is especially important for aged care residents and will help reduce the risk of severe illness or hospitalisation." According to modelling from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data, JN. 1 was first detected in Australia in mid-October and cases are increasing rapidly.