COVID-19 vaccines could soon be mandatory for aged care and disability workers in a bid to lower the risk of aged care facility deaths, pending medical advice.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, state premiers and territory chief ministers on Friday backed the idea at a national cabinet meeting.

“Make no mistake, we are leaning heavily into this as leaders of governments, and myself as prime minister, to see a move towards mandatory vaccination for aged care workers,” he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

Australia’s expert medical panel has been asked to detail how to make vaccines mandatory in aged care without putting the sector under strain.