Omicron deaths to go under the microscope

Deaths attributed to Covid during the Omicron wave will come under the microscope of a taskforce being established within the federal health ­department.

Australia’s chief medical officer Paul Kelly announced the special unit on Thursday, saying more detail was needed about deaths in nursing homes and the community.

But federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese blasted the move and demanded Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck resign, accusing him of not looking after the interests of older Australians.

Authorities have come under scrutiny for being unable to explain whether people who died were vaccinated, or had a chronic illness.

New figures obtained by the Herald Sun show almost 90 per cent of the 321 Covid-­related deaths in Victoria last month were people aged over 70.

In December, about 80 per cent of the 189 deaths recorded were people aged 70 and older.

Prof Kelly expressed his condolences to every family that had lost a loved one during the pandemic.

“There have been many deaths in aged care and … we are looking to try and get more details about those deaths,” he said.

“We will be setting up a specific task force in the department to look at that and do everything we can to get more detail about the issues.”

States provide a minimal amount of data such as age and sex when people die.

But Prof Kelly said details about where people lived, whether they had a chronic disease or had been vaccinated were “not being provided” by all jurisdictions.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said recent data showed 61 per cent of people who passed away with Covid were in palliative care.

Mr Hunt said 19 per cent were unvaccinated, while 8 per cent were partially vaccinated.

But Mr Albanese said the taskforce was an “extraordinary” response.

“They are going to ask a few people in the department to look at the data,” he said. “They are not going to act.”

Mr Albanese also called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to sack Mr Colbeck, after the minister rejected claims the aged-care sector – which is struggling under workforce and rapid antigen test shortages – was in crisis.

TEENS’ THIRD DOSES BEGIN AS CASES RISE

Health authorities have recorded an uptick in the proportion of positive rapid antigen tests coming from people aged under 20, as hundreds of Victorian schools battle Covid outbreaks.

The state’s Covid-19 commanderJeroen Weimar on Thursday said the spike in cases from a younger cohort was likely caused by the return to the classroom.

“(There is) presumably a significant linkage into our school-aged population,” he said. “We expect to see these numbers bounce around over the next couple of weeks as the schools settle down.”

It comes as Victorian state-run clinics began vaccinating eligible 16 and 17 year olds with their third dose on Thursday. The dose will be the adult Pfizer vaccine given three months after their second dose, as recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

There are 114,000 Victorians in the 16-17 age cohort who are due for their third jab, with a further 32,000 to become eligible in the coming weeks and months. “Wherever you want to get it done, please just get it done in the days and weeks ahead,” Mr Weimar said.

VAXXED DEFINITION COULD CHANGE

The definition of fully vaccinated is set to undergo an overhaul with new advice about whether booster shots should be included expected as early as next week.

Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has also revealed people who have received a booster may instead be deemed “up to date”.

The nation’s expert immunisation panel has been deliberating about whether the definition of fully vaccinated would require three Covid jabs going forward.

But Prof Kelly said some people who were immunocompromised actually required four vaccinations – giving the concept of up to date legs.

“That’s the terminology we use with other immunisations,” he said. “There will be a decision about what ‘up to date’ means, and then there will be a grace period to allow people to become up to date.”

Premier Daniel Andrews has spent the past week warning that he expects three doses would be required, signalling this may be applied to Victoria’s vaccine passports.

Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday reiterated that the Commonwealth did not have a mandatory vaccination policy.

Mr Hunt said if the definition changed, he would expect states and territories would follow the advice.

The update could also have implications for international travellers arriving at Australia’s border.