COMMUNITY health leaders hope the mobilisation of a vaccine van will increase vaccination rates in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
The ‘Vaccine Van’, staffed with health professionals from Star Health and Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), began providing vaccinations in Red Cliffs on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Vaccine Van will move to Merbein on Thursday and Friday, where it will be accessible at 11 Main Avenue between 9am and 5pm.
VACCHO chief executive Jill Gallagher said outbreaks among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community across the state was a “very dangerous situation”.
“These outbreaks across Victoria combined with plans to reopen the state means that there is an extremely urgent need for our community to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” Mrs Gallagher said.
According to the latest federal government data on vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from October 12, the north-west region had 66.86 per cent single dose and 39.53 per cent double-dose vaccination rate. Along with Latrobe-Gippsland, this was the lowest rate of double-dose vaccination among people aged 15 and over in Victoria.
Estimates for the date for Victoria reaching 80 per cent vary, with data published at ABC predicting November 5, while Guardian Australia showed that the double dose could be reached anywhere from November 4 to 9.
Mrs Gallagher said with NSW opening up, and Victoria soon to follow, it was “absolutely crucial that we are not left behind again”.
“The VACCHO Vaccine Van will … remove barriers to accessing COVID-19 vaccinations, such as geographical distance and access to transport,” she said.
Information on regional vaccine van visits schedule across Victoria will become available on the VACCHO website and Facebook page.
