The New South Wales government will not seek to mandate COVID-19 booster shots for healthcare workers, despite calls from Victoria to change the definition of a “fully vaccinated” person to include a third dose.
1/1 Covid-19 Hospitalisations in NSW Australia double in just 7 days; 96% of which are Fully Vaccinated
— Humingbird (@Piqui0990) February 4, 2022
The number of patients admitted to hospital and ICU in New South Wales, Australia has doubled in just 7 days, and 96% of those admitted to hospital, and 90% of those admitted pic.twitter.com/T4QdtoFbhg
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is currently preparing advice for national cabinet that is expected to recommend expanding the definition of full COVID-19 vaccination to three shots.
New South Wales, Australia, would seem to be in the grip of …. a pandemic of the vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/Q2zrzqvEHk
— StevenWMosher (@StevenWMosher) January 27, 2022
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has pushed hard for the change. Essential workers in Victoria have already been told they must get their third dose to continue working on site, and Andrews suggested last week the requirement may be expanded to people wishing to access hospitality venues.
100,000 booster appointments were not filled in New South Wales last week. pic.twitter.com/NwsbwSHnU1
— Luana (@LuanaGoriss) January 31, 2022
South Australia has also already mandated the COVID-19 booster shot for workers in healthcare, aged care, and people with disabilities. The South Australian premier, Steven Marshall, has said it is “increasingly likely” that people will need a third dose to be considered “fully vaccinated.”