Opinion: We must move past the state v state rhetoric and focus on getting vaccines to those at highest risk in this outbreak, wherever they are
As a Victorian, I did not immediately warm to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s call for “our” vaccines to head north. But as COVID-19 case numbers rise toWe must move past the state v state rhetoric and focus on getting vaccines to those at highest risk in this outbreak, wherever they are. The NSW decision this week to give doses from the rural and regional supply to year 12 students in Sydney hotspots is exactly the kind of flexible response we need.
This will enable faster, cheaper, more accessible and more widespread testing and could be a first step to screen people for further testing using the “gold standard” PCR diagnostic tests currently used. Rapid antigen tests are not as accurate as PCR tests and should not replace them, but should be used to screen people when there are widespread outbreaks such as in Sydney now.Other countries are adopting similar approaches including Singapore, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.
While employers have been drafted into this fight, given they must protect workers and workplaces on the frontlines of the pandemic, we should also support and leverage the relationships of community groups and make sure they too have a seat at the table.After weeks of lockdown in NSW, we continue to see high numbers of infectious people moving around the community. At least 88 of Thursday’s cases in NSW were in the community for all or part of their infectious period.
But in addition to federal payments, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT all offer a specific payment of between $250-$300 for people who have to isolate after a test. Earlier this month, Ms Berejiklian indicated she was looking at a similar measure but has not gone down that path. NSW only offers the two federal payments – Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment and the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
We have fallen behind on quarantine. We are lagging on vaccination rates. But Australia’s COVID-19 response can again become a model of best practice around the world if we tackle this latest wave – and future outbreaks – using every tool in the toolkit.Save
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