Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation secretary Paul Gilbert confirmed that the union was in discussions with the government about the surge workforce.
But he said the federation believed there would be sufficient workforce capacity without requiring the use of nursing students to administer vaccines.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s Victorian president, Anthony Tassone, confirmed that the state’s Health Department had expressed an interest in using final year pharmacy students and interns to assist with the vaccine rollout.
“This may not necessarily be in the actual administration of the vaccine, but it may be in the drawing up of the vaccine and labelling in preparation to give to a patient,” Mr Tassone said.
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Premier Daniel Andrews has closed the border to visitors from Sydney, given Victorian residents until 11.59pm Monday to get home or face two weeks of hotel quarantine, and will establish police checkpoints along the southern side of the border for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Throwing Christmas holiday plans into chaos, Mr Andrews has dispatched 700 police and military personnel to enforce the border lockdown, which will begin at 11.59pm on Sunday.
He also requested 200 to 300 ADF troops, but Canberra sources said the Morrison government had not responded to his request on Sunday evening, and it could take two or three days to assess the need.
You must stay in your state : Victoria shuts out Sydney, sends police to border stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Premier of the Australian state of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, has closed the border to visitors from Sydney, given Victorian residents until 11.59pm Monday to get home or face two weeks of hotel quarantine, and will establish police checkpoints along the southern side of the border for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. Throwing Christmas holiday plans into chaos, Andrews has dispatched 700 police and military personnel to enforce the border lockdown, which will begin at 11.59pm on Sunday (local time).
LUIS ENRIQUE ASCUI/The Age
Premier Daniel Andrews said he feared the outbreak in Sydney was set to expand beyond the northern beaches.