NSW Health has issued an apology after an “error” saw Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines administered to boarders at a prestigious Sydney Catholic school.
More than 160 students St Joseph’s College received their first dose of the vaccine in May, despite it not being available for most students or the general public.
The school issued a statement saying it approached Sydney Local Health District because the boys are boarders with some coming from rural communities, including remote Indigenous communities.
Sydney Local Health District chief executive Teresa Anderson on Tuesday said only Indigenous students – who are eligible – were supposed to be vaccinated.
“Through an error, the wider group of boarders in Year 12, a total of 163 students, were also vaccinated,” she said.
“Sydney Local Health District apologises for this error.”
The principal, Ross Tarlinton, said students were administered the vaccine at a centre determined by NSW Health.
“The approval and administration of the vaccine was endorsed and managed by NSW Health through the Sydney Local Health District,” he said.
“Acknowledging that the College does not determine vaccination priority, it welcomed the opportunity to offer the vaccine for students given the approvals provided.”
Meanwhile, a third worker at the SummitCare aged care facility at Baulkham Hills in Sydney’s northwest is among Tuesday’s new cases, sending more staffers at the home into isolation.
The staffer worked while infectious but had received their first dose of AstraZeneca and did not expose any more residents.
Five SummitCare residents have tested positive, including one who was not vaccinated. All five have been sent to Westmead Hospital for observation.
Another of the new cases is linked with the Meriton Suites Waterloo cluster.
Eight to ten people attended a party there on June 26, the first night of lockdown. Seven of the revellers have now tested positive, as well as five household contacts.
Meanwhile, 13 NRL St George players have been fined for attending a party at the home of Paul Vaughan, who was sacked by the club for hosting the gathering on Saturday night.
Elsewhere, NSW Health has issued fresh alerts including for people who dined at The Locker Room at Sydney Olympic Park, Club Marconi at Bosley Park, JB Hi Fi at Westfield Bondi Junction, Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre and Woolworths Metro Granville.
NSW Health said there were 26 COVID-19 cases in hospital, with six in intensive care, two of whom require ventilation.
The two-week lockdown in NSW is expected to cost the economy about $750 million a week or more, according to St George Bank economists.
-with AAP
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