Page 2192 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 3 August 2021
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MRS KIKKERT: Minister, have you provided AMC staff with protective, heavy duty equipment for protection against heat, fire and chemicals, as per recommendation 1 of the inspector’s report?
MR GENTLEMAN: I understand that is still being worked on with AMC staff and the commissioner. I will be able to come back to the chamber with the number of PP equipment circulated so far, in detail.
MR CAIN: Minister, why was there no formal debrief for officers after the incident, given that this is a requirement of the Incident Reporting, Notifications and Debrief Policy 2020 to ensure that lessons are learned from incidents such as these?
MR GENTLEMAN: That is a matter that I will have to take up with AMC. I have not been briefed on whether or not there was a debrief. Of course, if it is a recommendation or a condition of the code of operation at AMC, it certainly should occur. I have had recent conversations with a number of staff at AMC, and with the union and their delegates as well, who would like to see some changes in the way we operate at the AMC. We will certainly take those on board.
Health—COVID-19 vaccination rollout
DR PATERSON: My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, could you please update the Assembly on the ACT’s vaccination rollout?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Dr Paterson for the question. I am of course pleased to inform the Assembly that the ACT’s COVID-19 vaccination program is continuing to progress both efficiently and safely. Since our program began on 22 February this year, a total of 142,779 vaccine doses have been administered through ACT government clinics and of course that is complemented by the rollout through primary care and the direct rollout in residential aged care as well, which the commonwealth is responsible for. This is an incredible achievement to date and, combined with the commonwealth government’s expansion of the role or primary care in administering vaccines, more than half of the ACT’s adult population has now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
On 29 June, the ACT’s third COVID-19 vaccination clinic commenced operations at the Canberra airport precinct. Our health services have been administering COVID-19 vaccines seven days a week, and we are increasing our vaccination capacity so that more Canberrans can get vaccinated.
Recently the capacity of ACT vaccination clinics was increased to more than 14,000 Pfizer doses a week. This is more than double our previous capacity. We have reserved 2,000 appointments each week for important, high-risk groups including healthcare, disability and aged care workers. The ACT government recognises that these workers are essential to our community and that it is vital to have the ability to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
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