COVID-19 update: Australia may consider recognising long COVID as a disability

This is your update on COVID-19 in Australia for 6 September.

People at a pop-up COVID vaccination clinic in Sydney's Lakemba suburb. (file) Source: AAP / DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAPIMAGE

Key Points

• Victorian Premier apologies to the families of people who died waiting for ambulances
• First jab is more effective in males, claims new study
• The ABS report shows the pandemic is driving higher cancer, dementia and diabetes death rates

On Tuesday, Australia reported at least 66 COVID-19 deaths, including 27 in New South Wales, 25 in Victoria and eight in Queensland.

Federal Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander said Australia could consider recognising long COVID as a disability. This has been done in some countries, including the US.

Dr Freelander is the chairman of a parliamentary committee probing the impacts of long COVID and reinfections.

Dr Freelander told ABC’s RN Breakfast that Australia would require some form of multidisciplinary long COVID clinic that provides physical and mental health support, housing, and job support.

Check the latest COVID-19 trends for new cases, hospitalisations and deaths in Australia here.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews offered a personal apology for the deaths of 33 people who died waiting for ambulances in the past two years.

Mr Andrews blamed a rise in the emergency calls during the height of the pandemic for the deaths.

Australian and international researchers found that the first jab of a COVID-19 vaccine is more effective in males.

Lead author and the University of Melbourne Professor Cassandra Szoeke said it was more common for females to experience negative side effects of vaccines compared with males.

"Specifically, blood-clotting events were more commonly reported among females who took the AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines," she said.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ latest provisional mortality report showed the COVID pandemic is driving higher cancer, dementia and diabetes death rates.

Australia reported 75,593 deaths between January and May, which is 16.6 per cent higher than the average over the previous five years.

Data showed deaths from dementia, diabetes, and cancers were 20.5 per cent, 20 per cent and six per cent, respectively, above the five-year baseline.

Find a Long COVID clinic

ACT New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland

South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia

Find a COVID-19 testing clinic

ACT New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland

South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia

Register your RAT results here, if you're positive

ACT New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland

South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia

Before you head overseas, check the latest travel requirements and advisories

Here is some help understanding COVID-19 jargon in your language

Read all COVID-19 information in your language on the SBS Coronavirus portal