Scott Morrison has declared the coronavirus vaccine will be mandatory for residential aged care workers and all quarantine workers, including those in transport, and their household contacts.
Following an emergency National Cabinet meeting last night (June 28), the states and territories agreed to mandate jabs for those on the frontline.
The Prime Minister noted in his address that more than two-thirds of Australia's nearly 1,000 Covid-19-related deaths have been in aged care homes.
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He said aged care workers must get their first injection by the beginning of September.
Mr Morrison said: "Imposing on a person the requirement to have a vaccine or not be able to work in a particular sector is something that no government would do lightly and as a result we have ben considering this matter for some time now based on the best possible medical advice.
"This is a serious situation we're confronting and as always we're doing it together."
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The National Cabinet has agreed to ban putting international quarantine arrivals next to lower-risk domestic arrivals. New arrivals will also have to undergo mandatory testing two or three days after leaving hotel quarantine.
The Prime Minister has also issued a new directive for the vaccine rollout that allows anyone under 60 to get the AstraZeneca jab if they agree to the risks associated with the injection.
The Australian government banned Aussies under 50 getting that jab due to the very rare risk of blood clots. However, if people are happy to get it then they can get the vaccine from their GP once they sign a waiver.
The federal government has introduced a new indemnity for doctors that will prevent them from being sued if a patient has an adverse reaction to the jab.
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Scott Morrison said: "The ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) advice does not preclude a person under 60 from getting the AstraZeneca vaccines.
"If you wish to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, we would encourage you to go have a discussion with your GP."
These new directives have been ordered to combat the latest outbreak of coronavirus that has so far resulted in lockdown or new restrictions for residents in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory, the ACT and Western Australia.
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Scott Morrison said: "You're in a position where largely you're seeking to suppress it in the same way you try and prevent people from getting the flu each year - we're nowhere near that point at this stage.
"I'd be encouraging Australians to hang in there. We don't have a choice. The pandemic is still upon us. It's the pandemic, that's the reason why these things are happening and happening not just in Australia but in all places around the world."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Australia