AGED-care homes in Sunraysia say worker vaccination numbers have had a boost with the increased availability of Pfizer coronavirus vaccines in the region.
Chaffey Aged Care chief executive Darren Midgley said 54 per cent of his workers would have received at least their first jab after 26 attended a vaccination clinic was held on Monday.
“The bulk of our staff are under 50,” Mr Midgley said. “It’s great they now have access to Pfizer, which has only been available in our region the last few weeks.
“It is good news for our organisation and for the care of our residents.”
Another vaccination clinic for aged-care workers would run in coming weeks, Mr Midgley said, before the mid-September deadline set by the Federal Government for all to have received their first vaccination.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt announced last week coronavirus vaccinations would be mandatory for aged-care staff across the country, with funding available for providers to support workers to take time off to receive their jab.
Jacaranda Village chief executive Lakshmi Reghunath said her home would continue a program of vaccinations for staff already under way before the Federal Government announcement.
“A lot of our workers have been vaccinated,” Ms Reghunath said. “It is easier now with GPs offering the Pfizer vaccination.”
Jacaranda Village has held an on-site vaccination day for staff through Bendigo Health and has scheduled an off-site vaccination day.
“Our staff are quite happy to come forward and be vaccinated in the best interests of residents,” Ms Reghunath said.
The vaccine rollout for aged-care staff in the region had been “pretty organised”, she said. “It is going very well.”
