Rural Northwest Health wishes to address the Warracknabeal Herald article “Aged care vax rates shocker” which appeared in the July 5 edition and reassure the community that it is committed to ensuring its aged care residents receive the best possible care including vaccinations.
The COVID vaccination numbers stated in the article are not reflective of Rural Northwest Health’s current figures.
At the time of collation, Department of Health rules stated that residents who had contracted COVID were ineligible to receive their next vaccination until 6 months post-infection.
This rule was changed in February, meaning that should a resident have contracted COVID on March 1 they would have been eligible to receive their next dose as soon as they were clinically stable and within the dosage timeline.
Current Yarriambiack Lodge resident COVID vaccination figures:
Dose 1 and 2: 41 out of the 42 residents* have received the two doses. The remaining 2 residents declined the vaccines (as is their human right to do). Total vaccination rate: 95.3%.
Booster dose: 39 residents received vaccination. 3 declined. Rate: 90.69%.
Winter dose: 39 residents received vaccination, 3 declined. Rate: 90.70%
Dose 5: 37 residents received vaccination, 3 declined. Rate: 86.05%.
Dose 6: 25 resident received vaccination, 3 declined, 11 are due shortly, and 4 are not yet due for the next dose. Rate: 58.14%. **
Of the residents who have not yet received their booster, winter, 5th, or 6th dose of the COVID vaccine, Rural Northwest Health will be scheduling the individuals to receive it every six months, or as according to the Department of Health guidelines which dictate:
- All adults aged 75 years and older are recommended a COVID-19 vaccination every 6 months.
- All adults aged 65 to 74 years are recommended a COVID-19 vaccination every 12 months, and can consider a dose every 6 months, based on their individual health needs.
- All adults aged 18 to 64 years with severe immunocompromise are recommended a COVID-19 vaccination every 12 months, and can consider a dose every 6 months, based on their individual health needs.
- All other adults aged 18 to 64 years can consider a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine every 12 months.
“It’s disappointing that the figures published neither reflected the rule changes or our current vaccination figures,” RNH CEO Jenni Masters said.
“Our dedicated teams work tirelessly and collaboratively with the Department of Health, our GPs, and the local Primary Health Network to both ensure and maintain the health of our residents including making sure that the residents’ vaccinations are up to date where the resident is both eligible, medically fit, and consents,” she said.
———
Note:
*RNH respite residents have been omitted from the COVID vaccination figures as they are short-stay only.
**The COVID vaccine figures vary slightly per dose due to the number of residents in our facility changing over time.