Murrumbidgee Local Health District has announced the rollout of AstraZeneca vaccinations to health service staff across the District. Initially vaccination clinics were established at hub sites in Wagga Wagga and Griffith to begin the implementation of the vaccine.
From Monday 29 March, mobile teams will be deployed to outreach clinics at smaller hospital sites to ensure healthcare workers and aged care residents can be vaccinated as close to where they live as possible. Hospital and Health Service staff, including paramedics are anticipated to receive the vaccine over the coming weeks as part of the Priority 1A and Priority 1B rollout. “Planning for the vaccine rollout has been a huge task,” commented HEOC Coordinator Emma Field. “It’s been important to ensure that the rollout is done in a manner that ensures continuity of services and that is why we have adopted a staggered approach.”
The vaccine rollout is being led by the Australian Government, with the NSW Government responsible for implementing parts of the program with a focus on priority/vulnerable populations in NSW. Healthcare workers working in locations with a higher risk of exposure to, and transmission of COVID-19, such as emergency departments, COVID-19 testing clinics, and COVID-19 wards are among the first to receive the vaccine.
Chief Executive Jill Ludford said she was pleased with the speed with which the vaccination would be rolled out across the District. “We anticipate that NSW healthcare workers in the region and aged care residents living in our Multi-Purpose Services will be vaccinated by the end of April,” she said. “This vaccine brings us another step closer to reducing the harm caused by the virus, and keeping vulnerable people in our communities safe.” NSW is working closely with the Australian Government to implement a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination program. More information about the COVID-19 Vaccination Program is available on the Australian Government Department of Health website and the NSW Health website.
