The Health Department has created a new online map to show how many workers are vaccinated at aged care facilities.

The new resource is intended to help increase immunisation rates and stop the spread of COVID-19 among the most vulnerable.

The map on the Health Department website shows vaccination rates at aged care sites alongside the average level of immunisation by geographic area.

The data shows some enormous differences between vaccination rates among workers in neighbouring facilities.

It reveals that Melbourne’s outer suburbs are less protected than its inner areas, and that the proportion of aged care staff in some Sydney facilities is as low as 60 per cent.

The map is set to be updated weekly, and does not contain complete data for sites with fewer than five staff. The smaller facilities will give less specific vaccination rate data to avoid identifying the vaccination status of any individual.

Lieutenant-General John Frewen, co-ordinator general of ‘Operation COVID Shield’, says the map may help guide decision-making to ensure the aged care workforce gets jabbed by September 17, in line with Federal Government plans.

“The aged care sector has been fully engaged in getting its workforce vaccinated and the taskforce will continue to work with them to achieve this end,” he said.

The vast majority of COVID-19 deaths in Australia have been due to outbreaks in aged care facilities.

Under the Federal Government’s original roll-out plan, every aged care resident and worker was going to be vaccinated by early April.

They have been given priority status, allowing every staff member to receive the Pfizer vaccine regardless of age if they choose. It is mandatory for aged care workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine. 

The Health Services Union says many workers who want to get vaccinated cannot take the time off work to do so, and have otherwise had trouble finding bookings.