COVID-19 and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Australia: Can Rhetoric Equal Action?

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the Australian government has recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a priority group. This is due to a range of factors that could potentially result in worse outcomes for this population. To ensure the protection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, decisive national, and state and territory policy has involved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and community-controlled organisations. The vaccine rollout commenced in late February 2021, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being a priority population and due to receive vaccines before the general population. Despite this, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people sustained a vaccine coverage rate across the nation that was between 20 and 30% less than the general population and age-standardised mortality rates higher than that of the general population. As the Delta variant hit the nation in May 2021, COVID made its way into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The urgency of the need for vaccines, as well as the effect of COVID upon the health workforce, resulted in a range of developments to support the vaccine rollout, vaccine uptake and the provision of health services. This chapter discusses public health developments that can impede or support action and resultant outcomes regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people during a global pandemic. It describes some of the important events in pandemic planning, including how self-determination has been enacted within the national policy process.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCommunicating COVID-19
Subtitle of host publicationMedia, Trust, and Public Engagement
EditorsMonique Lewis, Eliza Govender, Kate Holland
Place of PublicationCham, Switzerland
PublisherSpringer International Publishing
Chapter10
Pages189-202
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-41237-0
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-41236-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • Vaccination
  • Health policy
  • Vaccine uptake
  • Healthcare delivery

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