Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Health
Tasmania’s health system is continuing to perform well through the ongoing transition of living with COVID-19 in our community.
Like other states and territories, we are seeing cases remain high due to the new highly transmissible BA2 strain of Omicron, but importantly, this is not translating to higher numbers in hospital or in the ICU.
In fact, Tasmania has the equal lowest rate per capita of COVID-19 hospitalisations, and the lowest ICU admissions in the nation.
This is thanks to the outstanding efforts of Tasmanians to get vaccinated, as we know that vaccination remains the best defence against becoming seriously ill or dying from COVID-19.
Tasmania has consistently been a vaccination leader when compared to other states, and I thank and applaud the Tasmanian community for their efforts in keeping themselves, and the rest of our community safe.
However, with the colder months nearly upon us, we cannot afford to become complacent, and we continue to urge Tasmanians to get their vaccination or booster when it’s due.
It’s also important to get your influenza vaccine as well.
Additionally, in line with new advice from ATAGI, our most vulnerable population groups are recommended to get an additional booster – or “winter dose” of vaccine – this winter.
This additional booster will be available to people aged 65 years and over, residents of registered aged care facilities and disability care facilities, Indigenous Australians aged 50 years and over and people who are severely immunocompromised.
The rollout of this additional booster will begin next month and I strongly encourage people in these groups to book in when they’re able to, and boost their immunity and protection with this fourth dose.
And, while there is no shortage of vaccination appointments in state-run clinics, vaccination rates have slowed down for boosters and for children aged 5 to 11 in recent weeks.
Pharmacies have played an important role in our vaccination program and will now be able to apply to give COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5 to 11.
This will be an opt-in service, subject to authorised immunisers completing childhood-specific training and notifying Public Health.
With the current levels of transmission across Tasmania, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your family is to make sure you are up-to-date on vaccinations, so please – if you’re due for a vaccination, book it in as soon as possible.
