We are once more observing an increase in the amount of COVID circulating as Australia approaches the pandemic’s fourth winter. There is a higher chance of infection and severe sickness as a result.n
One of the categories at the highest risk is elderly persons receiving care in an aged facility.n
However, according to the most recent data from the federal health authority, as of May 24, little over 40% (42.9%) of elderly citizens who were thought to be eligible for a booster vaccine had already had their most recent dose and were completely immunized.nn
If we also take into account immunity gained through recent infection in the past six months, just over half (50.4%) of aged care residents are estimated to have adequate levels of immunity.n
Although numbers have increased considerably in the past few weeks, this is plainly far from ideal.n
It’s been heartbreaking
Earlier in the pandemic, I was briefly part of the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, set up to coordinate the response to the COVID surge in residential facilities. I was part of the team that collected, collated and interpreted COVID data used to inform the public health response.n
What we witnessed in aged care then, and since, has been nothing short of heartbreaking.n
Our inability to adequately protect aged care residents in the early part of the pandemic was undoubtedly one of our biggest pandemic failures.n
I saw firsthand that this was not due to a lack of effort. The reality was there were just too many factors thwarting our ability to bring outbreaks under control in this uniquely challenging setting.n
Since then, aged care residents have continued to die from COVID during the Omicron era. Since January 2022 COVID has accounted for about 5% of all deaths in residential aged care.
Why booster shots are so critical
Maintaining high levels of immunity by being up to date with COVID boosters is vital for protecting this vulnerable cohort from serious outcomes this winter.n
Age, existing chronic illnesses and weaker immune systems are just some of the reasons why this group is most vulnerable.n
Not only do vaccines protect against passing COVID on to others in this high-risk environment.n
And with higher rates of COVID transmission in the community, we’ll likely see more active outbreaks in residential aged care facilities. This highlights how important it is to see more residents receive their booster shots.n
COVID fatigue, vaccine distribution
It’s not entirely clear why COVID booster rates in aged care are so low.n
There may be some COVID vaccine fatigue. Residents and their families may have tuned out to public health messages about the importance of vaccination and keeping up to date with booster shots. But how much of an issue this is in aged care is hard to measure.n
Changes in the way COVID vaccines are delivered to aged care may have also played a role. Early in the pandemic, vaccine delivery was coordinated federally. However, now aged care centers vaccine, with primary health-care providers, such as GPs and pharmacists, administering the shots.n
We’ve tried incentives
Health departments and health workers are well aware of the need to adequately protect aged care residents as we head towards winter.n
In February 2023, incentive payments for eligible health workers to go into residential aged care facilities to administer COVID vaccines were streamlined and increased.n
In April 2023, the federal health department’s chief medical officer, and the aged care quality and safety commissioner issued a joint letter to aged care providers with advice on preparing for winter, including a reminder about COVID vaccination.n
The residential aged care homes across Australia to arrange COVID vaccination clinics.n
This is all positive and sensible. Yet, we still haven’t seen a huge spike in COVID booster rates as we reach the end of May. That is concerning.n
We mustn’t forget flu vaccines
As we enter the colder months, influenza also poses a aged care residents.n
So promoting COVID and influenza vaccination in aged care should go hand-in-hand this year, and for the foreseeable future.