The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in regional NSW has been given a boost, with Australian Defence Force personnel deployed across Western parts of the state to run a series of pop-up vaccination clinics.
The ADF are in their first week of a 6 week campaign to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to as many people in rural and regional NSW as possible.
The ADF assistance comes as the latest Federal Government figures reveal more than 1 in 2 people in the Central West have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and more than a quarter of residents are fully vaccinated.
Federal Member for Calare, Andrew Gee, said the ADF are an essential part of the vaccine rollout in Western NSW, which kicked off in Dubbo on the weekend.
“ADF personnel will operate pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics in 33 areas across regional NSW, hitting the road to offer free COVID-19 vaccinations to towns, regional centres, and some of the most remote communities in the state.
“Three weeks later, the ADF Vaccination Outreach Teams (VOT) will return to those areas to administer the second jab.
“This week, ADF personnel will assemble pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Bourke, Warren, Parkes, Brewarrina, Narromine, Peak Hill, Trangie, and Forbes.
“70 members of the Australian Army are taking part in the initiative to get jabs into the arms of our country communities, bringing hundreds of doses of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca to people who have yet to receive the vaccine.
“The group of 70 ADF personnel will be divided into five Vaccination Outreach Teams, that include 8 medics, 1 clinician (either a doctor or nurse) and 5 logistics officers. Each team will be assisted by members of the Local Health District. All team members have been trained and are fully vaccinated.
“The ADF Vaccination Outreach Teams will first set foot in Calare on Monday August 30, running a clinic in Mudgee until Friday 3 September. Other Calare communities which will receive a visit from ADF Vaccination Outreach Teams include Canowindra, Rylstone, Eugowra, Gulgong, Bathurst, Kandos and Orange.
“According to Federal government figures released this week, 53.1% of people over the age of 15 in the Central West have now had at least one jab of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 28% are fully vaccinated.”
“It’s encouraging to see that already, more than half of the Central West have attended a vaccination clinic, GP, or pharmacy to receive their first jab. For those who are yet to book an appointment, I urge you to attend the ADF-run pop-up vaccination clinic when it visits your area.
“The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) continues to recommend that all adult Australians should strongly consider COVID-19 vaccination with any available vaccine.
“With the Delta strain of COVID-19 well and truly in our own backyard, there is no reason to delay getting the jab and putting the health of your family, friends, and community at risk during this outbreak.
Andrew Gee had his second AstraZeneca jab at the end of July, so he is fully covered.
