COVID-19 vaccination rates in residential care reach 56.8%

Just over three months ago, the estimated percentage of eligible aged care residents vaccinated was only 9.1%.

As of 5 July 2023, of the aged care residents who have been eligible for a booster shot since January 2023, 86,199 or 56.8% of eligible residents have now received their 2023 booster dose.

In total, 107,668, or 58.3% of residents, are estimated to have had a recent immunising event – a vaccine dose (including the 2023 booster) or have contracted COVID-19 in the last six months.

However, vaccination numbers are still down. During the week, 2,911 residents were vaccinated, down from an average of about 5,000 a week in early June.

The Department of Health and Aged Care’s 2023 COVID-19 vaccine booster program began on 20 February 2023, with a focus on ensuring aged care residents are ‘topped up’ if it has been more than six months since the last immunising event (an infection or a vaccine dose).

A Department spokesperson told The SOURCE, “In 2023, the majority of COVID-19 vaccines continue to be administered in aged care facilities by primary care providers such as general practitioners and community pharmacists.

“The incentives for GPs and pharmacists to vaccinate aged care residents were simplified and significantly increased in February 2023 and indexed in July 2023 to support this work.”  

The SOURCE: Staff are still wearing masks in aged care homes, with nearly 10% of homes experiencing an outbreak during the week – the costs of managing COVID-19 remain.