coronavirus,
The ACT government will spend $24 million to roll out the COVID-19 vaccines across the territory, as preparations for the major logistical challenge ramp up. The funding boost will provide cold storage facilities for the vaccines, staffing, training and logistical support of the rollout. Tens of millions of dollars more will be spent on boosting the territory’s public health response capabilities, including increasing the Chief Health Officer’s resources. The Pfizer vaccine was given Therapeutic Goods Administration approval on Monday and is set to begin being administered at the end of February. It’s likely front-line workers and vulnerable Canberrans will be among the first in the territory to receive the jab. The vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 in specialised ultra-cold freezers, which the Commonwealth will be responsible for funding. Canberra Hospital, which will likely be the first site to rollout the vaccines, is one location in Canberra which already has some ultra-cold freezers. Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said other vaccines that don’t require ultra-cold freezers are likely to be stored at expanded ACT government facilities. “ACT officials and providers such as general practitioners and community pharmacists who currently participate in vaccination programs have considerable experience in cold chain management,” she said. “Works to expand Health Protection Services’ cool-room facilities will take place as part of the $4.5 million in capital funding announced today.” The broader population would be more likely to receive the yet to be approved AstraZeneca vaccine, which does not required ultra-cold freezer storage. Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the extra funding will ensure money is not being diverted from other health services to administer the vaccine. “This will be a major logistical and operational exercise and the ACT government will take a very deliberate and measured approach to the vaccine rollout,” he said. It’s part of $63 million in extra health funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic the government will announce at next month’s budget. The Chief Health Officer will have her resources increased while testing capabilities will be ramped up. It will include more money for contact tracing, case investigation, medical and public health specialists and quarantine processes. There will be money for more personal protective equipment and the costs of supporting repatriation flights. Mr Barr said the money was necessary to be able to continue to successfully contain the virus. READ MORE: “With the assistance of Canberrans, the ACT government has managed an effective health response to the COVID-19 pandemic that’s seen no community transmission since March 2020,” Mr Barr said. “However, the pandemic does not have an end date and we know the situation can change quickly, both in the ACT and interstate. “In addition to the ongoing delivery of an effective public health response, we must have the capability to surge quickly if the need arises.” The first stage of ACT’s vaccine rollout will likely involve vaccination sites near or at Canberra Hospital. The later stages of the program will probably involve general practitioners and pharmacists. The budget will also contain funding to deliver some of Labor’s health election commitments. An extra $6.5 million has been allocated to fund additional services at Calvary Public Hospital Bruce to meet the growing demand from the northern parts of Canberra, in line with population growth and ageing trends. There will also be $908,000 to fund four beds in Palliative Care ACT’s “Leo’s Place” respite hub to support Canberrans with a life-limiting illness and their carers. Funding of $16.6 million provisioned in the August 2020 Economic and Fiscal update will be released to undertake critical electrical building services infrastructure upgrades to Building 10 at Canberra Hospital.
/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc79zu31p8xd36v3zxb06.jpg/r15_162_4042_2437_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
The ACT government will spend $24 million to roll out the COVID-19 vaccines across the territory, as preparations for the major logistical challenge ramp up.
The funding boost will provide cold storage facilities for the vaccines, staffing, training and logistical support of the rollout.
Tens of millions of dollars more will be spent on boosting the territory’s public health response capabilities, including increasing the Chief Health Officer’s resources.
It’s likely front-line workers and vulnerable Canberrans will be among the first in the territory to receive the jab.
The vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 in specialised ultra-cold freezers, which the Commonwealth will be responsible for funding.
Canberra Hospital, which will likely be the first site to rollout the vaccines, is one location in Canberra which already has some ultra-cold freezers.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said other vaccines that don’t require ultra-cold freezers are likely to be stored at expanded ACT government facilities.
“ACT officials and providers such as general practitioners and community pharmacists who currently participate in vaccination programs have considerable experience in cold chain management,” she said.
“Works to expand Health Protection Services’ cool-room facilities will take place as part of the $4.5 million in capital funding announced today.”
The broader population would be more likely to receive the yet to be approved AstraZeneca vaccine, which does not required ultra-cold freezer storage.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the extra funding will ensure money is not being diverted from other health services to administer the vaccine.
“This will be a major logistical and operational exercise and the ACT government will take a very deliberate and measured approach to the vaccine rollout,” he said.
It’s part of $63 million in extra health funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic the government will announce at next month’s budget.
The Chief Health Officer will have her resources increased while testing capabilities will be ramped up.
It will include more money for contact tracing, case investigation, medical and public health specialists and quarantine processes.
There will be money for more personal protective equipment and the costs of supporting repatriation flights.
Mr Barr said the money was necessary to be able to continue to successfully contain the virus.
“With the assistance of Canberrans, the ACT government has managed an effective health response to the COVID-19 pandemic that’s seen no community transmission since March 2020,” Mr Barr said.
“However, the pandemic does not have an end date and we know the situation can change quickly, both in the ACT and interstate.
“In addition to the ongoing delivery of an effective public health response, we must have the capability to surge quickly if the need arises.”
The first stage of ACT’s vaccine rollout will likely involve vaccination sites near or at Canberra Hospital.
The later stages of the program will probably involve general practitioners and pharmacists.
An extra $6.5 million has been allocated to fund additional services at Calvary Public Hospital Bruce to meet the growing demand from the northern parts of Canberra, in line with population growth and ageing trends.
There will also be $908,000 to fund four beds in Palliative Care ACT’s “Leo’s Place” respite hub to support Canberrans with a life-limiting illness and their carers.
Funding of $16.6 million provisioned in the August 2020 Economic and Fiscal update will be released to undertake critical electrical building services infrastructure upgrades to Building 10 at Canberra Hospital.
