Presenter(s):

Emily Preece, Hall & Prior Health and Aged Care Group, Australia

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Australian state and territory governments made certain vaccinations mandatory for staff and visitors to residential aged care facilities and rolled out large scale free vaccination programs for residents.

Once government enforced mandates were lifted, the Board of Hall & Prior elected to retain mandatory annual influenza vaccinations for all staff. Community support for influenza vaccinations among LTC residents remains high, and influenza vaccination rates for residents remain steady. However, vaccine hesitancy regarding COVID-19 booster vaccinations appears to have increased.

Hall & Prior remains committed to achieving sector-leading vaccination rates for a range of vaccine-preventable illnesses to protect the health and wellbeing of vulnerable long term care residents. Strategies to maximise uptake of vaccinations include awareness and education for residents and their families, partnerships with general practitioners and pharmacists, and provision of onsite clinics to reduce barriers to accessing vaccinations. Underpinning all initiatives has been the need to improve data collection and reporting of vaccination rates.

In this session, we will examine vaccination programs for older adults and people working with them in Australia, including for influenza, COVID-19, shingles (herpes zoster), pertussis and pneumococcal disease.

Bio(s):

Emily Preece is the Director of the national Office of Quality, Safety and Compliance for the Hall & Prior Health and Aged Care Group, a privately-owned provider of aged and disability care services across 39 residential facilities and 4 home/community care services in Australia.

With a background and Masters in Public Policy, Emily brings knowledge from a range of sectors, including public health, emergency management and legal services, to her work in aged care.

Emily played a key role in Hall & Prior’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New South Wales and Western Australia and continues to focus on vaccination policy and program implementation for the organisation.