Dose of hope as vaccinations begin

Union takes a jab at vax ‘disarray’

A KEY health union says its members have missed out on COVID-19 vaccinations despite being promised they were in the highest priority group.

Health and Community Sector Union acting state secretary Robbie Moore (right) yesterday described the federal government’s vaccine rollout as being in “absolute disarray”, with poor communication and aged care staff being unvaccinated.

Last week, Health Minister Greg Hunt said Phase 1A of the federal rollout would be for aged care and disability residents and staff, quarantine and border workers, and frontline health workers.

The government provided a list of facilities where the vaccine would be delivered but no detail on what order or when.

Vaccinations started on Monday but questions about how many vaccines had been delivered and to whom were not answered by the federal Health Department yesterday.

“We have huge concerns in relation to the federal government’s rollout in aged care and disability services, and our number one concern is that workers do not know what’s going on,” Mr Moore said. He said the only reason the union knew of the vaccine deployment in the state’s north was due to aged care staff notifying them.

“They assumed they would be getting the vaccine (but) they have not vaccinated aged care workers at this stage,” he said.

“I think aged care workers should come well before the Prime Minister.”

State Health Minister Sarah Courtney yesterday did not appear to know details of federal government plans for vaccinating aged care residents.

“The detail of the federal government rollout is obviously a matter for them,” she said.

“My clear focus as the state Health Minister is on the areas of my responsibility, which is what’s happening today at the Royal (Hobart Hospital).”

Labor leader Rebecca White said the lack of federal and state co-ordination was troubling.

“It’s incredibly worrying if the health ministers aren’t talking when this is arguably the biggest vaccination program Australia’s ever going to undertake,” she said.