BENDIGO Health is working to overcome major logistical challenges to ensure Mildura’s frontline healthcare workers get the COVID-19 Pfizer jab from later this month.
Dr Andrew Mahony, an infectious diseases physician from Bendigo Health, has promised there would be enough Pfizer/BioNTech doses for all of Mildura’s frontline healthcare practitioners.
But Bendigo Health, one of the state’s nine vaccine hubs, faces the massive logistical hurdle of transporting the Pfizer vaccine – which needs to be stored in freezers at -70 degrees – right across the Loddon Mallee region, from Mildura down to Woodend in the Macedon Ranges.
“That’s one of the logistical challenges we’re still sorting through,” Dr Mahony said.
There were concerns the four-hour drive from Bendigo to Mildura could threaten the viability of the Pfizer vaccine, which was initially thought to be only effective for two hours after being placed into a syringe.
However, Dr Mahony has cited new Pfizer research that shows it can last up to six hours.
“(This) means we’ll actually be able to get the vaccine to Mildura,” he said.
“That news is quite welcome because it just means that in the rollout, particularly for the regional population, we don’t have such a tight time frame to administer the vaccine.”
Dr Mahony said the protocols around how and who administers the vaccine at public hospitals – including Mildura Base – was “still being worked through”.
“We’ll be working with (Mildura hospital’s) staff to make sure the vaccine is given to all the right people,” he said.
As Bendigo Health works out how to get the vaccine safely and effectively across the Loddon Mallee’s 58,961km sq region, Mildura’s political leaders remain divided on Sunraysia missing out as a first-stage hub.
Federal Member for Mallee Anne Webster said the Andrews Government’s decision to omit Mildura was “disappointing”.
Dr Webster said where you live should not change the priority.
“We have healthcare workers, aged care workers and residents who are vulnerable and at higher risk should COVID come to Mallee,” she said.
However, Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said there was a “clear justification” for our “low-risk zone” missing out.
“There’s no conspiracy behind this,” the independent State MP said.
“From a statewide public health perspective, there is a clear justification for a rollout starting in certain areas that don’t include Mildura.”
