Over the next two weeks, Australian Defence Force personnel will establish pop-up vaccination clinics across 8 locations in Calare.
ADF Vaccination Outreach Teams will commence their tour of the Calare electorate on Monday 30 August, setting up clinics in Mudgee and Gulgong.
In Mudgee, the pop-up clinic will be based at The Stables, delivering vaccines until 3 September. The troops will be administering jabs at Gulgong Memorial Hall until 1 September.
The Teams will set-up in Canowindra on 1 September, followed by Eugowra on 2 September, and Rylstone on 4-5 September. On Monday 6 September, the ADF will fan out to deliver jabs in Orange, Bathurst, and Kandos.
Federal Member for Calare, Andrew Gee, said the ADF Vaccination Outreach program has been a success, dramatically boosting vaccination numbers in Western NSW.
“For the past week, Defence Force personnel have been administering jabs in Dubbo, Bourke, Warren, Parkes, Brewarrina, Narromine, Peak Hill, Trangie, and Forbes,” said Minister Gee.
“Thousands of residents in these areas have put the health of their family, friends, and community first by coming forward to get the jab.
“These clinics have proven to be a fantastic opportunity for people in regional and rural areas of the state to help defend themselves, their loved ones, and their neighbours both near and far, against the Delta strain of COVID-19 – which does not discriminate.
“There’s every possibility the Delta strain could still spread like wildfire across the region, so I’m calling on residents who have yet to put their name down for a vaccination appointment to attend your local ADF pop-up clinic, where no bookings are needed.”
“With case numbers in the region continuing to climb, and repeated extensions of the lockdown in regional NSW, getting the jab is the only way we can claw our freedoms back from the grip of the virus.
“Because the vaccines are proving to be effective, and with vaccination rates amongst older Australians now high, we particularly need to get more under 50s vaccinated. Most of the current cases are in this age group.
“I’m excited that residents across Calare will begin to have the opportunity to attend an ADF Vaccination Clinic and receive either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine.
“Three weeks later, the troops will return to those areas to administer the second dose of the vaccine.
“ADF Vaccination Outreach Teams are made up of 8 medics, 1 clinician (either a doctor or nurse) and 5 logistics officers, as well as members of the Western NSW Local Health District.
“In total, 70 members of the Australian Army are taking part in the push to protect our country communities from COVID-19.
“By the end of the campaign, the ADF will have run vaccination stations in 33 areas of Western NSW.
“I had my second AstraZeneca dose just over a month ago, and, especially during this Delta wave, I feel glad that I am fully covered,” said Mr Gee.
