Region's aged-care workers line up to get the jab to protect residents

Just a month ago, only about 60 per cent of aged-care staff in the south-west had had a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The interactive map made public to track which facilities had a workforce that was entirely vaccinated shows 11 aged-care homes across the south-west had met the 90 to 100 per cent vaccination rate for first dose.

Although the map showed three facilities had only reached 80 to 89 per cent and another lagging at 70 to 79 per cent, it was revealed those numbers were still yet being updated on the website and those facilities had in fact had almost 100 per cent vaccination rates

Aged-care workers were given until Friday to get their first dose of the vaccine or face losing their jobs.

Across Australia, about 95 per cent aged-care staff have been vaccinated with national cabinet said to be about to debate extending the mandate to all healthcare workers.

While the map lists Sunnyside House in Camperdown as having a 70 to 79 per cent vaccination rate, chief executive officer Claire Schmierer said that would be updated to say almost all staff had had their first dose.

She said there were just a couple who still needed to get their first dose but they had shown proof that they had an appointment for that to be done. Ms Schmierer said no staff at Sunnyside House had resigned over the vaccination mandate but she said during industry Zoom meetings it had been revealed that "quite a few" across Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales had quit their jobs.

She said that was leaving the industry with a shortage of workers at a time when they were already struggling to get staff, particularly in rural and regional areas of Australia.

While the map lists Heytesbury Lodge and Lovely Banks as only having an 80 to 90 per cent vaccination rate, a Cobden Health spokesperson said it was actually 98.5 per cent with just a couple yet to get their first dose.

But she said there was a number of valid reason why that hadn't happened yet but vaccination would happen soon and those staff wouldn't work until that took place.

Lyndoch Living's Warrnambool facility was listed as being 80 to 89 per cent vaccinated, but on Friday it revealed updated figures showed 98 per cent of team members had had their first dose and 76 per cent were now fully vaccinated.

"Lyndoch Living is proud of the efforts by team members to protect the health of others within our community by receiving the COVID-19 vaccine," it said in a statement.

Warrnambool Place Care Community and Warrnambool Riverside Care Community spokesperson said that all of their team members who were able to be vaccinated had been vaccinated.

Mercy Place, which has been listed as having a 90 to 100 per cent vaccination rate, said it was actively encouraging all staff to be vaccinated so they could continue to work in the home.

"We are in regular contact with staff about the department's requirements and are assisting those who want to be vaccinated to have a vaccination," it said in a statement.

"To support our unvaccinated staff, and to administer second doses to other staff members, we have scheduled a vaccination clinic at our home on 24 September.

"For staff members who have not booked in their first dose by 17 September, we will be unable to include them on our roster until they are vaccinated.

"We will have a clearer picture of how many staff members cannot be included on our roster after the Department of Health's 1 October deadline."

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