The
Gutwein Government and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff need to do more to
increase access to COVID vaccinations for children as cases climb with 1,051
reported in Tasmania overnight.
Shadow Health Minister Anita
Dow said cases were only going to increase as the government made access to
vaccinations for families available only in limited rural and regional
locations – particularly in the North West – with 17,000
Tasmanian children in the five to 11 year age bracket still yet to receive
their first dose.
“The government
has released its plan for the next stage of term one in schools but it contains
no information about how classrooms and teachers will cope with the onset of
autumn and winter, only an intention to continue on as normal,” Ms Dow said.
“There is still
a significant risk going forward since the government opened the borders to
COVID and of course we are going to see more and more cases as we head toward
winter.
“It’s imperative
that Mr Rockliff and the government do more to grant access to the thousands of
children who are yet to receive their first dose.
“Why isn’t there
a greater commitment to regional and rural access – with only a handful of
areas targeted by the government – meaning Tasmanian families still have to travel
to larger centres to access a vaccination for their children?
“Why does Tasmania still
remain the only state where pharmacists cannot administer vaccines to children?
“Overall, vaccination rates across the North West continue to sit
about 10 per cent below those in the south.
“This government needs to focus on delivering for Tasmanians rather than focus on the chaos and disarray in its Cabinet.”
Anita Dow MP
Shadow Health Minister
