Sam McMahon (NT, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Colbeck. Can the minister update the Senate on the national COVID vaccine rollout, particularly to remote and Indigenous communities?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator McMahon, for your question. This week is a historic week for all Australians. We are now into day 3 of the mass vaccine rollout across the country. We are prioritising the most vulnerable in our society to receive the vaccine first. Aged-care residents, border and quarantine and frontline health workers are being offered the vaccine this week. Among the 240 facilities and 190 towns in regional and remote centres across the country to receive the vaccines this week, vaccinations are occurring in the Northern Territory—the Territory you are so proud to represent, Senator McMahon. And I can indicate that, as of this morning, 249 residents of aged-care facilities in the Northern Territory have received a vaccination. The Royal Darwin Hospital will also be working to vaccinate frontline healthcare workers. The most vulnerable are part of phase 1a of the vaccine rollout. Phase 1b will include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55, adults aged over 70, other healthcare workers, younger adults with an underlying health condition, including those with a disability, and high-risk workers, including defence, police, fire and emergency services and meat processing workers. Phase 2a includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 to 54 years, adults aged 50 to 69 years and other critical high-risk workers. Phase 2b expands to the remainder of the population over the age of 16.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McMahon, a supplementary question?

Sam McMahon (NT, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that people in remote communities are extremely mobile and on any day a large proportion of the population may be away, can the minister detail how we are going to ensure that people receive their follow-up vaccination within the manufacturer's time frame?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator McMahon, for the supplementary question. The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines into regional, rural and remote communities is a vital part of the Australian government's vaccine strategy to protect our rural and remote communities and manage the fight against the virus in the regions.

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines require two separate doses for a person to be fully immunised: Pfizer-BioNTech 21 days apart and AstraZeneca 12 weeks apart. The rural health workforce has been integral to managing the challenge of the COVID pandemic over the year and our rural health workforce is vital to the success of our vaccination rollout, and we will again be relying on them—and we know we can rely on them—to follow up individuals and deliver for our remote communities.

We commend the efforts of all the doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and allied health workers in our rural and remote areas and thank them for their efforts.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McMahon, a final supplementary question?

Sam McMahon (NT, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister inform the Senate how the vaccination rollout complements the government's commitment to the health of Indigenous Australians?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health remains a high priority for our government and a central component of the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap. To drive progress towards our Closing the Gap commitments, we are working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health experts to refresh the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. The Indigenous Australians health program is investing approximately $4 million over four years to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The government recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians may be particularly vulnerable to the impacts and restrictions put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we've provided support to develop culturally appropriate mental health and wellbeing resources to support First Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic.