Aged care concerns over unvaccinated visitors
The Australian Aged Care Collaboration (AACC) has called on the Victorian Government to urgently review a decision to allow unvaccinated visitors to residential aged care homes in the state.
The AACC has written to Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Professor Brett Sutton seeking a meeting as a matter of urgency. The AACC is a group of six aged care peak bodies representing more than 1000 aged care providers delivering care to nearly a million older Australians.
Both Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) and Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) raised concerns about the decision to allow up to five non-vaccinated visitors to aged care homes per day.
"None of us want to experience the high rate of disease in facilities again given the traumatic experience in Victoria last year," the AACC said in a statement.
"There are still high rates of community transmission in Victoria and even though the workforce and a high proportion of residents are vaccinated the presence of unvaccinated visitors poses too much of a risk particularly to vulnerable older residents.
"Aged care providers strive to take the utmost care in protecting their residents and staff from COVID but the current rules in Victoria make this difficult to achieve.
"Vaccination is one of the most important defences available to protect our older Australians. We therefore, urge the Victorian Government to reconsider this position."
NSW, ACT, and SA have all issued public health orders which only permit fully vaccinated visitors, with limited exemptions. Queensland also intends to restrict visitation to those who are vaccinated once they lift restrictions.
Do you think unvaccinated guests should be banned from visiting aged care facilities?
100% yes....not only aged care but all public places.