Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 21 November 2023
Government’s Covid Risk Level ‘Low’ as Christmas Wave Approaches
The release of new Covid vaccines for children over five and over 12 years old is welcome news. We encourage all Tasmanian families to book in for a booster, as cases rise leading up to Christmas.
Being up to date with vaccines is the best way to reduce the risk of severe Covid infection to your family. Protecting children from Covid and the impact on growing bodies of infection and reinfection should be encouraged by the Rockliff Government.
Experts estimate hundreds of thousands of Australians are currently infected with Covid, and project this will rise to millions closer to Christmas. At this time of year, socialising and spreading virus is inevitable given governments have abandoned their responsibility to protect the health of the community.
Despite this projections – and the tragic deaths of seven Tasmanians in the last reporting period – the government’s Covid risk level is still set at ‘low’. In the hub of the festive season, how are Tasmanians expected to take Covid risk seriously if the government won’t?
We know masks are required in hospitals and many high risk settings, so why not tell the general public the real risk?
When the government dropped the risk level to ‘low’ they justified that decision by saying cases were ‘decreasing or stable’, and that they’d increase it if needed. Clearly the situation has changed, and the advice from government should reflect the significant amount of Covid circulating in the community.
The Rockliff Liberals should lift the risk level now, so people understand they need to protect their friends and family at Christmas. At a minimum, we can encourage people with symptoms to have a test and wear a mask, socialise in well-ventilated places, and keep up to date with Covid boosters.
Media release – Pharmacy Guild of Australia, 21 November 2023
INCREASED PHARMACIST VACCINATION SCOPE IN TASMANIA APPLAUDED BY PHARMACY GUILD
Approved Pharmacist Immunisers working in community pharmacies across Tasmania will be able to initiate and administer a wider of range of vaccines from the first of January 2024 under changes to the Tasmanian Vaccination Program Guidelines released today.
The changes align with a recent Commonwealth decision to provide funding for community pharmacies across Australia to initiate and administer vaccinations under Australia’s National Immunisation Program (NIP) from the first of January 2024.
This means that eligible patients will be able to attend their local community pharmacy to receive their vaccinations under the NIP at no charge.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Tasmanian President, Helen O’Byrne said that “these changes mean eligible people can readily access vaccinations within their own community, especially when it may be difficult to see a GP, without having to worry about out of pocket costs.”
Recent data from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) indicates that potentially 69,000 Tasmanians over the age of 70 have not received a vaccine to protect against pneumonia.
“Our elderly population are very susceptible to pneumonia which can be extremely serious and life-threating,” Ms O’Byrne said. “We encourage pharmacists to check vaccination records and remind older Tasmanians to protect against pneumonia, along with ensuring that their COVID -19 boosters are up to date.”
Across all Australian states and territories, more vaccinations are now available through community pharmacies, with the bulk of COVID-19 vaccines being delivered by pharmacists.
“Harmonising vaccination scope across all states and territories is key to ensuring the health and wellbeing of all our communities, and we hope that in time Tasmanian pharmacists will also be able to provide vaccinations for travel,” said Ms O’Byrne.
“Tasmanian community pharmacists authorised to provide vaccinations have proven themselves during seasonal influenza and more recently during COVID-19, where they have successfully managed multiple vaccine types and patient clinical profiles.”
“We encourage all our pharmacists to undertake the approved requisite training and let their communities know that many more lifesaving vaccines are now available from their local community pharmacy across Tasmania.”
