Nearly one in five residential aged care homes have had fewer than 10% of their residents vaccinated against COVID-19 in the last 6 months, the recommended dosage for people over 75, according to data published by the Department of Health and Aged Care as of 9 April 2025.
Not For Profit BlueCare, which is owned by UnitingCare Queensland, has 40 aged care homes across the state. More than half its homes - 24 homes - have COVID-19 vaccination rates of residents below 10%.
A spokesperson for BlueCare told The SOURCE, "While many residents are choosing to be vaccinated, we have observed that some are declining the COVID-19 vaccine.
"This may be due to a sense of vaccination fatigue, however, our clinical teams continue to provide clear, evidence-based information to residents and their families to support informed choices around vaccination."
The spokesperson said even though vaccination is voluntary for residents, they "strongly encourage" all residents to stay up to date with COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations, "especially in the lead-up to winter". BlueCare make vaccines available to all residents including on-site vaccination clinics in partnership with GPs and pharmacists.
Estia Health, which was acquired by US-based Bain Capital in 2023 and has 85 aged care homes (soon to be 87), has 20 aged care homes with fewer than 10% of residents vaccinated against COVID-19 in the last six months.
The data comes as the Chief Clinical Advisor of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, Dr Mandy Callery, issued a Clinical Alert about "poor" and "persistently low" COVID-19 vaccination rates in residential aged care.
"The number of COVID-19 related deaths of people living in aged care settings remains unacceptably high," the alert states.
The latest data from the Department showed as of 10 April 2025, there were COVID-19 outbreaks in 70 aged care homes in Australia and 261 residents with the virus plus 141 staff. Two residents died from COVID-19 during the week.
The data also shows fewer than half - 47% - of people aged 75 years and older living in residential aged care homes have received a COVID-19 vaccination in the last six months.
"This rate compares poorly to the much higher vaccination rates of around 75% that are achieved with the annual Influenza vaccination drive," Dr Callery wrote, urging providers to begin gaining consent for both vaccination rates and planning for winter vaccination clinics."
Flu cases for this time of year have been at historic highs, but have eased in the last month.
Estia Health did not respond to our questions.