The medical experts helping guide Australia’s coronavirus response have been asked to reconsider whether people working in residential aged care should be required to get the vaccine.
Key points:
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee — comprised of state and territory chief health officers and Commonwealth officials — decided against mandating vaccinations for aged care workers in January.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt have asked the panel to reconsider the advice as Melbourne grapples with an outbreak at the Arcare Maidstone facility.
“In terms of mandatory, we are referring that question again to the medical expert panel of state chief health officers and Commonwealth officials, so that has been referred at the request of the Prime Minister and myself,” Mr Hunt said in Canberra on Monday.
“It had previously been discussed but for medical reasons the view of that group had not advised in favour of it.”
ABC News: Ian Cutmore
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd confirmed the panel had been asked to review the advice.
“That’s work that’s under way at the moment,” Professor Kidd said.
“We expect that will also be considered by the National Cabinet later this week.”