Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Princess Fiona]

If you look in Federal Governments published plan that very group is in Phase 1b.

Phase 1b has commenced. Household contacts of quarantine and border workers can book in to be vaccinated now with the AZ vaccine. For Pfizer they have to be invited.

Vic (not that HQ is reactivated yet) made an announcement on vaccinating HQ household contacts a little bit back as well.

View attachment 243424

View attachment 243423

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-program-phase-1b_1.pdf

Cheers. I was just about to post exactly this.
It’s not a NSW Government initiative at all.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Apols if already answered but why isn't NSW reporting daily dose numbers?

I have no idea, but they are the one jurisdiction that does not, or rather does not do so publicly.

 

[Pushka]

If you look in Federal Governments published plan that very group is in Phase 1b.

Phase 1b has commenced. Household contacts of quarantine and border workers can book in to be vaccinated now with the AZ vaccine. For Pfizer they have to be invited.

Vic (not that HQ is reactivated yet) made an announcement on vaccinating HQ household contacts a little bit back as well.

View attachment 243424

View attachment 243423

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-program-phase-1b_1.pdf

That's strange. That category does not appear in the 1b Criteria sent to me by the vaccinating medical center just less than a week ago. Full document can be downloaded from the link and a screenshot here:




I had never understood, on that basis, that families of quarantine workers were in 1b which is why I was pleased when NSW mentioned they were doing this. I see that Aus Health link was updated on 18th March. And I suspect that was when this group were included in 1b.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

That's strange. That category does not appear in the 1b Criteria sent to me by the vaccinating medical center just less than a week ago. Full document can be downloaded from the link and a screenshot here:

View attachment 243426


I had never understood, on that basis, that families of quarantine workers were in 1b which is why I was pleased when NSW mentioned they were doing this. I see that Aus Health link was updated on 18th March. And I suspect that was when this group were included in 1b.

The roadmap I posted was published as you noted on the 18th March. Your material has no date, and so presumably an older version. So 18 March is the formal date, but while I do not monitor every state I remember seeing on my mobile when I was away a reference in a news article indicating that Vic were also doing it. And I have been back a week and so it will have been before then.

Being a national document no doubt all jurisdictions would have been part of the discussion and most likely continues what had already begun in multiple, if not all, jurisdictions.

 

[Pushka]

The roadmap I posted was published on 18th March. Your material has no date, and so presumably an older version. So 18 March is the formal date, but while I do not monitor every sate I remember seeing on my mobile when I was away a reference in an news article indicating that they were also doing it. And I have been back a week and so it will have been bore then.

Being a national document no doubt all jurisdictions would have been part of the discussion.

View attachment 243435

Yes. I said in my post that this was updated on 18 March and my material was received on 18 March from the vaccination clinic so clearly a last minute addition.

 

[Lynda2475]

Odd logic you have

Not odd at, Vic are not taking international passengers (just minimal crew and freight workers) wnich means Vic currently has the lowest exposure risk of anywhere in Australia, so the least urgency to vaccinate. They have no active cases whereas all the states and territories taking passenger arrivals are managing active cases from overseas origins.

Vic havent even had the decency to commit to resuming arrivals once all HQ workers have been vacinated, which should be by Easter. 1a get pfizer, 3 weeks to deliver first shot then another 3 weeks to give all those their second shot.

Common sense is to vaccinate those at greatest risk of being exposed first, and that is very very few people in Victoria (those dealing with air crew hotel) compared with other states who do that plus passengers who are here much longer than the 48 hours most crew turn around in.

Victoria has twice now suspended taking arrivals far longer than reasonable (was never really resonable on this latest pause given other states kept accepting arrivals even with HQ breaches), to claim it isnt political is laughable.

When the roll out plan was released (and in Feb when pfizer started), household members of HQ workers were not originally listed in 1a or 1b, that change is more recent and after nsw announced they were fast tracking household members.

 

[Pushka]

When the roll out plan was released (andin Feb when pfizer started), household members of HQ workers were not originally listed in 1a or 1b, that change is more recent and after nsw announced they were fast tracking household members.

I agree, their inclusion was only inserted last Thursday, less than a week ago, and I certainly heard that NSW were vaccinating family members as a matter of priority well before then. So

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Not odd at, Vic are not taking international passengers (just minimal crew and freight workers) wnich means Vic currently has the lowest exposure risk of anywhere in Australia, so the least urgency to vaccinate. They have no active cases whereas all the states and territories taking passenger arrivals are managing active cases from overseas origins.

Vic havent even had the decency to commit to resuming arrivals once all HQ workers have been vacinated, which should be by Easter. 1a get pfizer, 3 weeks to deliver first shot then another 3 weeks to give all those their second shot.

Common sense is to vaccinate those at greatest risk of being exposed first, and that is very very few people in Victoria (those dealing with air crew hotel) compared with other states who do that plus passengers who are here much longer than the 48 hours most crew turn around in.

Victoria has twice now suspended taking arrivals far longer than reasonable (was never really resonable on this latest pause given other states kept accepting arrivals even with HQ breaches), to claim it isnt political is laughable.

When the roll out plan was released (and in Feb when pfizer started), household members of HQ workers were not originally listed in 1a or 1b, that change is more recent and after nsw announced they were fast tracking household members.

Of course it is odd . You do understand that the vaccine takes time to give protection? No, it seems no you don't.

The HQ workers need to be protected once HQ for travellers resumes in full in Vic.

However as stands today some workers are involved now with Aircrew as they are not driving themselves to and from the airport nor staying in accommodation without staff. Nor are they doing their own CV19 swabbing or health checks etc. Those aircraft are also loaded and unloaded. Border workers and other airport porter workers are also are also at risk now. So there are staff exposed now in Vic



The vaccine takes time to work and so all involved in HQ and border control need to be vaccinated now, even the ones that are not on active duty at present.

By your logic when the traveller HQ resumes in full you want it and the airport staffed by unvaccinated workers. Ludicrous.

Fortunately instead they will all have been vaccinated.


By the way it wasn't that long ago you were complaining about a Qld Doctor involved with returned travellers not being vaccinated.....

Now we wait to see what the irrational states do in reponse and if there is any double standard wrt QLD where infected doctor wasnt vaccinated vs nsw where the HQ worker was vaccinated.

...and yet today you are advocating that workers should not be fully vaccinated and ready for work.

 

[Pushka]

and yet today you are advocating that workers should not be fully vaccinated and ready for work.

Well, isn't this happening in every other state but Victoria?

 

[Lynda2475]

...and yet today you are advocating that workers should not be fully vaccinated and ready for work.

Again you seem incapable of reading what was actually written.

I am not advocating not vaccinating people (never have), i was discussing the imemdiate need to make protection available to those at most risk first. Its a matter of priority based on genuine risk.

My comments were it pointless to rush to vaccinate the Vic HQ workers who arent currently processing any passenger arrivals in HQ, as no interaction with Covid means no current risk of catching and spreading covid.

The HQ workers need to be protected once HQ for travellers resumes in full in Vic.

Except that Victoria have not announced a timeframe or criteria for resuming arrivals, therfore there is no immediate commitment to resume doing so and no immediate covid risk except to the handul handling flight crew which i already acknowledged. So right now Victorian HQ workers (outside of the airport crew hotel) have no urgency to be vaccinated, and wont until a plan to resume arrivals is announced.

It is a fact that Victoria has lowest risk position of any state becuase they arent pulling their weight on arrivals. The risk from air crew in Vic is also lower because there are fewer freight flights into Vic than NSW. Every state has air crew, nothing unique about Vic in that repsect.

Vic doesnt actually need to vaccinate everyone to resume arrivals, but if that is the intention they should have the courage to publicly state their policy, commit a timeframe and not expect other states to continue process their resident arrivals whilst they take no recipricol risk.

I also never claimed full protection is immediate after a vaccine but some protection is afforded after the first shot (plenty of evidence out of UK for this) and HQ workers will have had second by Easter so even more protection. Not having everyone fully vaccinated is not a good enough excuse not to accept arrivals, when other states have managed to do so continually for 12 months without a vaccine.

And the Brisbane doctor was treating positive arrivals, so certainly should have been in 1a and a top priority to get a jab so fact they werent front of queue remains a concern for me. Victorian HQ workers not currently taking arrivals, not a concern as completely different risk profile.

 

[jakeseven7]

Hate wading in on this oh so predictable fight (yet again) but I’m confused, it was on the news earlier today that VIC are restarting international flights within the next two weeks so makes perfect sense why they are vaccinating.... ummm to be ready....?

And of course the government has known this long before the public so of course they have been vaccinating. What’s the big deal?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well, isn't this happening in every other state but Victoria?

I am not sure I understand your question. Can you restate it please so I can answer it properly. Thank you.

PS All jurisdictions including Victoria are vaccinating HQ and Border Workers and all have been for some time..

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hate wading in in this oh so predictable fight (again) but I’m confused, it was on the news earlier today that VIC are restarting international flights within the next two weeks so makes perfect sense why they are vaccinating.... ummm to be ready....?

And of course the government has known this long before the public so of course they have been vaccinating. What’s the big deal?

Yes, that is correct. Which is why advocating that the HQ and Border Workers in Vic not be vaccinated is just ridiculous.

International flights, revamped hotel quarantine program in Victoria set to restart in next fortnight

Passenger flights have not arrived in Melbourne since February 14 when the Holiday Inn cluster that grew to almost 25 cases prompted a snap lockdown.

www.theage.com.au

Updated March 23, 2021 — 1.38pmfirst published at 10.13amirst published at 10.13am

 

[Lynda2475]

it was on the news earlier today that VIC are restarting international flights within the next two weeks

That is new information (and interestingly not mentioned on ABC news which I just finsihed watching), when asked yesterday the guy filling in for Andrews said nothing had changed and they were not ready to resume.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I just point out how on the one hand Qld. was criticised for not vaccinating all their quarantine related staff quickly enough, and on the other hand advocating that Vic should not be vaccinating their staff so they would be prepared.

That is new information (and interestingly not mentioned on ABC news which I just finsihed watching), when asked yesterday the guy filling in for Andrews said nothing had changed and they were not ready to resume.

There has been ongoing discussion on this for some time on when HQ for travellers would resume in Vic and it was only ever a matter of exactly when it would restart that was up for debate. Which is why your comments today on it being pointless to vaccinate Vic HQ and Border Workers were just ridiculous. That plus there are people on aircraft still flying into Victoria daily, despite the travellers having been paused.

 

[Lynda2475]

You said it was pointless.

Yep - whilst they had no immediate plan to take arrivals.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Yep - whilst they had no immediate needto take arrivals.

No immediate need? .

1/ Infected people are still flying into Vic on aircraft = immediate need

2/ The vaccine takes a while to work and also requires 2 vaccinations three weeks apart. = immediate need to have all staff vaccinated so they are ready for work at the expanded numbers

So not at all "kinda pointless" and very much required.

Another new hotel is being commissioned for quarantine purposes. Staff are being vaccinated. Various other changes have been flagged in recent weeks.

That sounds like a plan in progress to me.

ie from articles available from before today.

Victorian government adds new hotel to quarantine program​

Victoria has added a new hotel to its quarantine program in a sign the state could be getting ready to receive returning travellers again.

Jack Paynter
NCA NewsWireMARCH 23, 20218:02AM

The CQV spokeswoman said the deal to add the new hotel followed an expression of interest process for hotels interested in joining the program that closed on March 17.

“The hotel underwent a ventilation assessment prior to being selected and staff will be trained in infection prevention and control processes before any operations commence,” she said.

Onsite staff will also receive their first of two vaccination shots prior to operations commencing.

They will be exclusive to that hotel site and not permitted to undertake voluntary or paid work outside the hotel quarantine program without authorisation.

Victoria adds new hotel to quarantine program

The Victorian government has added a new quarantine hotel to its stable despite the state still not receiving returning overseas travellers.

www.news.com.au

New hotel signed up to quarantine program despite shutdown​

A new Melbourne hotel has been signed up to house returned travellers despite the program still being suspended

No Cookies | Herald Sun

Breaking News from Melbourne and Victoria | Herald Sun

www.heraldsun.com.au

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Hate wading in on this oh so predictable fight (yet again) but I’m confused, it was on the news earlier today that VIC are restarting international flights within the next two weeks so makes perfect sense why they are vaccinating.... ummm to be ready....?

And of course the government has known this long before the public so of course they have been vaccinating. What’s the big deal?

No point wading....if it’s not seen personally it’s all fake news.

I’ve made a point and the overall point is seemingly just ignored.

Yes I know the rollout is slow and imperfect and doing it’s best.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

No point wading....if it’s not seen personally it’s all fake news.

I’ve made a point and the overall point is seemingly just ignored.

Yes I know the rollout is slow and imperfect and doing it’s best.

I think we are all frustrated that the Vic HQ Traveller pause has been as long as it has been, and I suspect politics, or at least fear of political repercussions has played a part. But improving the HQ has also been key.

From the ongoing coverage that in the news in Victoria it has been evident that they are making a number of changes.

Older hotels have been discontinued.

New ones like the Novotel have been added. It is interesting to note that the medi- hotels which had especially upgraded HVAC late last year have not had any breaches, despite them having the bulk of positive cases (ie all HQ travellers that turn positive get sent there)

Plans are full steam ahead for cabin style quarantine at an airport, or even two airports (Avalon and Melbourne).

Talk on vaccinating household contacts, greater room spacing and other aspects such as PPE have bobbed up in the news from time to time.

I think the other aspect is that they want all the staff to have been properly vaccinated before they resume full throttle. And by all staff I mean everyone required to run the facilities 24/7 with all shifts and days off covered, as well as anyone else involved including transport workers, airport staff etc.

For example one of the early dedicated vaccination facilities that was set up was located at Melbourne Airport.

Melbourne Airport Vaccination Sub-Hub - Western Health COVID-19

The Melbourne Airport COVID-19 Vaccination Sub-Hub went live on February 22nd 2021. Doses of the vaccine are being administered

coronavirus.wh.org.au

And also my personal view is that fear of HQ breaches is now often stated. The tools are in place to control any breaches, and recent breaches has demonstrated this. Ensuring that all relevant persons to HQ and Border Control be vaccinated is a key plank in further dissipating the fear that some have. Hence why 1b was amended.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I think we are all frustrated that the Vic HQ pause has been as long as it has been, and I suspect politics, or at least fear of political repercussions has played a part. But improving the HQ has also been key.

From the ongoing coverage that in the news in Victoria it has been evident that they are making a number of changes.

Older hotels have been discontinued.

New ones like the Novotel have been added. It is interesting to note that the medi- hotels which had especially upgraded HVAC late last year have not had any breaches, despite them having the bulk of positive cases (ie all HQ travellers that turn positive get sent there)

Plans are full steam ahead for cabin style quarantine at an airport, or even two airports (Avalon and Melbourne).

Talk on vaccinating household contacts, greater room spacing and other aspects such as PPE have bobbed up in the news from time to time.

I think the other aspect is that they want all the staff to have been properly vaccinated before they resume full throttle. And by all staff I mean everyone required to run the facilities 24/7 with all shifts and days off covered, as well as anyone else involved including transport workers, airport staff etc.

For example one of the early dedicated vaccination facilities that was set up was located at Melbourne Airport.

Melbourne Airport Vaccination Sub-Hub - Western Health COVID-19

The Melbourne Airport COVID-19 Vaccination Sub-Hub went live on February 22nd 2021. Doses of the vaccine are being administered

coronavirus.wh.org.au

Well I guess some of that lines up with what jakeseven7 was saying.

Pfizer is 3 weeks apart and if I remember right it take a couple of weeks for the full effect of the jabs to accrue.

We don’t get a dissection of vaccination numbers ie Pfizer v Astra Zeneca, but a guess would be about 10% of Pfizer would be a second jab.