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Australia live news updates: 16- to 17-year-olds can have Pfizer booster, aged care staffing crisis deepens

Link [2022-02-03 00:34:42]

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Speaking of the ongoing Covid aged care crisis, health and aged care minister Greg Hunt is defending the government’s handling of the situation, telling ABC radio that 99% of aged care workers are now double vaccinated.

We have over 99% vaccination rate amongst aged care workers, one of the highest rates in the world. 91% vaccination rate for residents. We’ve been able to have one of the lowest rates of loss of life in aged care in the world...

But it is immensely hard for so many. The mental health impacts of people being locked down in aged care, which is a protective mechanism for them, but at the same time it has a huge impact on their quality of life.

If they can’t endorse [federal environment minister Sussan Ley] they should get out of the way and let the federal executive ensure we can get things done.

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