A royal commissioner who investigated failures in aged care is "shocked and dismayed" about the coronavirus vaccine rollout in the vulnerable sector.
Only one third of aged care workers have been vaccinated five months into the national rollout, despite being included in the highest priority group.
Federal, state and territory governments have decided to make vaccines compulsory for nursing home staff by September.
Royal commissioner Lynelle Briggs supports the mandate but says aged care workers should have been vaccinated much sooner.
A coronavirus outbreak in a Sydney nursing home has grown to 10 cases, with six residents and four staff infected.
Three of the employees were not vaccinated.
"I was shocked and dismayed and left asking myself what has happened here," Ms Briggs told ABC radio.
"Has this been a mistake amongst officials, was it a response to insufficient vaccines, or was it deliberate? In which case, it is a scandal."
