General News
8 July, 2024
Aged care vax rates shocker
Five aged care homes across the Wimmera failed to administer adequate Covid boosters to at least half of their residents, according to latest figures.
Five aged care homes across the Wimmera failed to administer adequate Covid boosters to at least half of their residents, according to latest figures.
Two homes in Warracknabeal - both run by Rural Northwest Health - and one each in Birchip, Donald and Stawell, recorded rates of 50 per cent or less among the residents in their care.
The figures were collected over a 12-month period up to June 12, using data from the Australian Immunisation Register.
The Federal Department of Health and Aged Care reportedly contacted providers with low vaccination rates requesting they submit plans to vaccinate their residents over coming weeks.
A spokesperson for Rural Northwest Health this week said all but three of its 42 permanent residents at Yarriambiack Lodge had since received the vaccine.
One was deemed clinically unsafe to receive the vaccine, and the other two exercised their right to refuse the vaccine.
See the nationwide statistics HERE.
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“Our wonderful team are highly proactive in ensuring as many residents as possible are vaccinated, with over 90 per cent of our residents having now also received their winter dose,” the spokesperson said.
The government’s advisory group on immunisation, ATAGI, recommends all adults 65 years and over, or aged 18-64 who are severely immunocompromised, receive a Covid booster dose every six or 12 months.
Older age is by far the strongest risk factor associated with morbidity and mortality from Covid.
A person aged 80 has a 30-fold greater risk of death than a person aged 50.
The vaccination rates are displayed in bands of 10 per cent or 20 per cent to protect the personal information of individuals.
Facilities with 10 or fewer residents are measured in a 20 per cent band. Facilities with fewer than five residents are not included.