Apr 17, 2020

Aged care staff urged to prepare for flu vaccination season

 

Staff and residents of aged care facilities across Australia are being urged to roll up their sleeves for flu vaccinations under a sweeping campaign to protect their health.

Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said it is particularly important staff and residents of residential aged care facilities received the flu vaccination this season as the fight to combat the spread of COVID-19 continues.

“The Government has asked Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across Australia to assist in the coordination of flu vaccinations in their region,” Minister Colbeck said.

“This health emergency is unprecedented and as we edge closer to winter we want to make sure staff and residents have the protection of the flu vaccination.”

PHNs will contact all residential aged care providers by region to undertake a needs assessment and coordinate influenza vaccination programs for those services with an identified need.

The provisions may include sourcing vaccine supply and supplying qualified vaccine administrators.

“With their considerable local knowledge and on-the-ground expertise, PHNs will deliver this essential service for the benefit of aged care workers and the Senior Australians in their care,” Minister Colbeck said.

“The flu vaccination is an important way we can make sure people stay healthy and don’t end up in the emergency department which could over‑burden our hospitals during the COVID‑19 pandemic.”

The key decision-maker for health emergencies, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee recommended all residential aged care staff and visitors – including family, friends or external workers – be vaccinated by 1 May 2020.

More information about the vaccination program is available here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. It would be great if we could get supplies of under 65s vaccines so we can do our younger residents & our staff but we keep getting told by the pharmacy that we are next on the list then suddenly the delivery is redirected to another facility with no explanation or apology. At this rate it will be Christmas before we get any.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Coronavirus: what will happen if we can’t produce a vaccine?

There are over 175 COVID-19 vaccines in development. Almost all government strategies for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic are based on the idea that one of these vaccine candidates will eventually provide widespread protection against the virus and enable us all to return to our normal lives. Read More

“Don’t be ashamed”: The 6 types of incontinence in men

Many men don’t even realise they have a pelvic floor, but pelvic floor exercises are one of the best ways to address male incontinence – a topic we delve into for World Continence Week (20-26 June 2022). Read More

Passionate home care worker wins Queensland’s Caregiver of the Year

A Queensland carer motivated by the grief of losing her father and brother to jump into the profession has won Queensland’s Caregiver of the Year. Read More
Advertisement