Australia’s efforts to keep its Antarctic bases COVID free are being strengthened, with a requirement that all expeditioners heading to the Antarctic for this year’s season are to be vaccinated against the disease.
Keeping COVID out of our Antarctic bases has been a key priority, requiring meticulous logistical planning. Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said access to the Pfizer vaccine has been secured for Australian based expeditioners joining the program.
“This a unique environment, and the health and safety of our Antarctic workforce is our highest priority,” Minister Ley said.
“Expeditioners travelling south will need to be fully vaccinated before transiting on our ships and planes to Australian Antarctic stations and field camps.
“Since the pandemic started last year, our polar medicine specialists at the Australian Antarctic Division have led the way in developing procedures to keep our expeditioners safe and COVID-19 out of our stations and we need to maintain that,” she said.
Australian Antarctic Division Chief Medical Officer Dr Jeff Ayton said the Polar Medicine Unit had developed a broad suite of control measures to manage the risks of the pandemic.
“In addition to the vaccination there will be other requirements for expeditioners, including two-weeks quarantine, testing and health monitoring prior to departure, during training, in transit and on arrival to prevent infection, and transmission of COVID-19,” Dr Ayton said.
“It is important, given the risks to expeditioners and the Australian Antarctic Program, that all measures are considered, given no one measure provides the necessary safety.
“There is limited ability to respond to COVID-19 on our ships or stations given the extreme isolation, confined living, our limited medical capability and the delays of any evacuation.”
Exemptions for vaccination will only be made on the grounds of medical advice.
“Expeditioners who have already received a vaccination will need to advise the AAD and provide evidence,” Dr Ayton said.
Australia’s four stations, Casey, Mawson, Davis and Macquarie Island are all equipped to test for COVID-19.
