Brad Hazzard criticises media after St Joseph’s College students receive COVID Pfizer vaccine

Health Minister Brad Hazzard has lashed out at journalists over criticisms NSW Health wrongly vaccinated 163 students from a prestigious Sydney boys’ school.

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NSW Health has apologised after an “error” saw Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines administered to boarders at St Joseph’s College  in Hunters Hill on Sydney’s lower north shore.

The vaccines were originally intended just for the school’s Indigenous senior students.

Mr Hazzard rejected accusations that frontline staff had embarrassed his department and damaged the public’s perception of the vaccine roll out.

“You know what? The school intended it well — there was a mistake and so what? It’s happened out of a million vaccinations. Move on,” Mr Hazzard said.

St Joseph’s — better known as Joeys — is one of Australia’s largest and most expensive Catholic boys’ schools.

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The principal, Ross Tarlinton, said the college approached Sydney Local Health District in May to ask if the students could be vaccinated.

“Given that we have a large number of boys who live in a residential community, which includes boys from rural, remote and Indigenous communities,” he said.

Brad Hazzard denied his department had been embarrassed by the incident.(

AAP: Dan Himbrechts

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Sydney Local Health District chief executive Teresa Anderson said yesterday the Pfizer doses were only intended for First Nations students at the college.

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“It was agreed that the Aboriginal students would be vaccinated through the state health system at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s vaccination hub,” Dr Anderson said.

“Through an error, the wider group of boarders in year 12, a total of 163 students, were also vaccinated.”

Chief health officer Kerry Chant this morning apologised, especially in light of her repeated calls for the vaccine to be administered to those at greatest risk.

“So clearly, there was an error and I can understand the concern and sympathise with the anger in the community about that occurrence,” she said

“That was a misunderstanding, a miscommunication, a misstep.”

Dr Chant said she was not aware of any other private schools that had been given vaccines in error.

“Certainly, it’s the only cases we are aware of in that regard. I apologise.”

Senior vice-president of the NSW Teacher’s Federation, Amber Flohm, said parents and educators were outraged that the students were given the vaccine.

“It’s obscene. Absolutely obscene,” she told the ABC.

“It highlights the inequality that exists across our society. That sort of behaviour is not going to get us through a pandemic.”

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