The Department of Health is taking immediate action to keep people living in residential disability settings, in private aged care residents and its staff, safe with a vaccination blitz.
Minister for Health, Martin Foley said that until Sunday (6 June) workers in private aged care facilities and the residential disability sector – which are managed by the Commonwealth – would be given priority access at walk-in vaccination hubs between 9am and 4pm when they presented evidence of their employment.
“While the Commonwealth will continue to be responsible for in-reach in disability residential settings, Victoria will also work with providers to support access to State-run vaccination sites to increase the current low level of vaccinations,” Mr Foley said.
“Outbreaks across Australia have shown how fast coronavirus can spread across these sensitive facilities,” he said.
“While all public sector residential aged care centres have been visited by State-run outreach teams for first vaccine doses, private facilities have lower vaccination rates and are significantly more susceptible to ongoing outbreaks.”
Mr Foley said staff were eligible for either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines, depending on their age.
The Minister said 10 vaccination centres were participating in the blitz, including the Royal Exhibition Building; Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC); Sandown Racecourse; Melbourne Showgrounds; Former Ford Factory – Geelong; Bendigo Community Clinic; Ballarat Mercure Hotel and Convention Centre; Shepparton Showgrounds – McIntosh Centre; Traralgon Racecourse; and Wodonga Vaccination Hub.
“Aged care and disability workers are already eligible to be vaccinated at State hubs and can continue to attend at any time during opening hours,” he said.
“However, this priority access five-day blitz will ensure they can be vaccinated quickly during peak periods and do not need to book in advance.”
Mr Foley said National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants and other community members currently eligible for the vaccination program were also able to access their vaccinations at State-run vaccination sites.
