The number of Covid-19 deaths in Australian residential aged care facilities has more than doubled in the past two-and-a-half years compared to the peak of the pandemic, raising serious concerns about vaccination rates and the ongoing protection of vulnerable elderly residents.
During the height of the pandemic, from 18 February 2020 to 19 May 2022, Australia recorded 2,415 Covid-related deaths in residential aged care.
However, between 27 May 2022 and 16 January 2025, that number surged to 4,778 deaths, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by aged care residents despite the availability of vaccines and treatments.
Experts are attributing this increase in fatalities to poor vaccination uptake among aged care residents. Current data shows that over 100 aged care facilities have fewer than 10 per cent of their residents vaccinated against Covid-19.
Additionally, more than 200 facilities report that less than 30 per cent of their residents have received a booster shot in the past year.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ aged care national chair, Dr Anthony Marinucci, has called the situation “totally unacceptable.” He emphasised that most people living in aged care have complex medical needs, making them high-risk patients.
“One of the major issues is a really, really poor vaccination rate,” Dr Marinucci stated. “It’s really not good enough and it’s significantly contributing to the morbidity of these people.”
The Australian government recommends that people over the age of 75 receive a Covid booster every six months, yet as of 22 January 2025, only 43 per cent of those aged 75 and over have received a booster within that timeframe.
Australian Medical Association President Dr Danielle McMullen has pointed out that the lagging vaccination rates indicate a broader systemic failure rather than outright vaccine refusal.
“Early in the pandemic, we had very little Covid in the community, whereas now we do have quite a lot of infection in the community … the vaccine rates are disappointing,” she said.
Aged care homes across Australia are currently dealing with multiple active outbreaks. As of 30 January 2025, there were 750 active Covid-19 cases across 122 aged care facilities.
Over the past week alone, there have been 47 new outbreaks, 6 new resident deaths, and 637 new combined resident and staff cases.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Coalition health and aged care spokesperson Anne Ruston criticised the Labor government for its handling of the situation.
“We have heard nothing from this government for more than two years on the steps they are taking to support the aged care sector and our older Australians through outbreaks,” she said.
However, a government spokesperson has defended its record, citing a decline in the Covid-19 case fatality rate in aged care. “The Covid-19 case fatality rate in aged care has reduced significantly from 33 per cent in 2020 to 3.3 per cent in 2022 and 1.3 per cent in January 2025,” the spokesperson stated.
While this data suggests improvements in managing infections, it does not diminish the stark reality of increased overall deaths due to Covid-19 in aged care settings.
Despite the drop in case fatality rates, the sheer number of deaths is alarming, and experts are calling for immediate action to boost vaccination rates and improve outbreak management in aged care homes.
Living in an aged care facility is bad for the health of the elderly who are badly nourished, an neglected physically and mentaly, I am one of the unfortunate ones to be victim of the uncanny behaviour of the staff . If I cannot go out I can be say, 3 days without anybody taking to me. People with dementia cannot talk after the inicial stages of the ilness. The staff ignores my lonelines. I am transparent. Not ‘seen’ by them. Nobody makes sure that the basic needs are met for the elderly living amongst people with dementia wihout them suffering the consequences of that terrible mental deficiency, they suffer from neglect. Loneliness, is the destiny of people like myself.
It’s sad but true what you say. Waiting for us all if we need care at the end of our lives. Unfortunately, aged care is a necessary evil for some.
Facilities are endorsing testing until a case is confirmed, staff have no sick leave left and will leave them in financial strife due to isolation still being in place so are reluctant to test and of casual do not notify facility due to not being able to not have an income. It’s pretty unfair that we still have isolation and unable to work but no financial support for the time we have to take off.
There has been no quantifiable improvement of COVID infection in aged care homes.
The major influence is how the infection enters the facility in the first place. The key influence being the lack of available resources and workers no longer being restricted to work while still being infectious.
No mask mandates among other infectious control conditions.
It has not been addressed within the new aged care act nor in legislative instruments. It’s not the vaccination rates as we know it does not stop someone becoming infected and antiviral medication assists is recovery. Is there any visibility or reporting on if this is being effectively administered?
It’s not just Aged Care Facilities. My Father caught RSV from an obviously sick Carer who didn’t want to give up his Saturday shift when he came and showered my Father. Dad spent a week in Hospital, came home and then died.
All Carers should have to show a negative test for flu, Covid and RSV before starting their shifts.
Re Covid 19 deaths you write that “Experts are attributing this increase in fatalities to poor vaccination uptake among aged care residents.” Who are the experts saying this? Are residents dying because they are vaxx-injured residents, rather than having Covid?
What information are residents given and how are they consenting? Is it truly informed consent?
How are they testing for Covid? Who is doing the swabbing?
The swabs are > 90% false positive. The vaxx’s do not stop people getting Covid (whatever that is) and do not stop transmission.
“The vaxx’s do not stop people getting Covid (whatever that is)”. Whatever that is? You, as a nurse do not know what covid is or are you suggesting that covid is not a real disease? Elderly people in aged care at the end of their lives, die from covid not because the vax killed them or because they weren’t given enough information to make an informed consent. They are dying because they are in the final stage of their lives, living a miserable existence not in their own home, sharing a common disease spreading air con system and any disease or illness, even a minor one, can push them over the edge. There’s nothing sinister about that.
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You will find that relatives don’t want their elderly vaccinated in most cases. And yes, how do we know the elderly aren’t getting ill from the vaccine?
Funny isn’t it that once the flu went around so many passed away from complications on top of their other many health issues. Cold and flu are part of life and so is aging. They aren’t in aged care facilities because they are healthy in mind or body. They won’t suddenly get better and go back home folks. Something is going to kill us in the end and I guarantee it won’t be just the flu or cold. You can only keep people alive for so long. Reality!