Australian Defence Force support to vaccine rollout in aged care

Joint Statement: 

SENATOR THE HON MARISE PAYNE, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women, Acting Minister for Defence

THE HON GREG HUNT MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care

Over 14,000 Defence personnel, through Operation COVID-19 ASSIST, have already supported the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including contact tracing, emergency clinical support, border control measures, swab testing, and support to hotel quarantine.

 As part of the continued expansion of the phase 1A COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the Australian Defence Force will provide supplementary support to the rollout of vaccines to Australians in aged care.

 As we move into the next phase of the aged care vaccine rollout and continue the expansion of teams, additional nurses, pharmacists and providers are being added, with ADF vaccination teams supplementing these efforts.

The teams are expected to start next week and will build on the planning, logistics, and operations support Defence personnel are already providing to the Department of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Taskforce.

 Defence’s support to the vaccine rollout will focus on vaccinating senior Australians in locations not readily accessible by other medical providers.  

 This is another important role the ADF is playing in protecting Australians against COVID, as they have throughout the pandemic.