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Thursday, December 26, 2024

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Vax clinic to close in Mildura

AFTER administering 17,000 COVID vaccinations over the past year, Sunraysia Community Health Services will wrap up its Thirteenth Street vaccination clinic on Saturday.

The move follows Mildura's third dose vaccination rate hitting the 70 per cent mark, meaning two-in-three Mildura residents have received their booster shot.

SCHS chief executive officer Simone Heald said Victorian Government supported COVID-19 vaccination would continue in Mildura and operate via an outreach model in the short-term, in a reduced capacity.

"We haven't often had moments to reflect over the past 12 months but the vaccination effort is something our community and health service should be extremely proud of," Ms Heald said.

"We've had lots of contributions to our vaccination effort but we couldn't have reached the 70 per cent third dose milestone without a willing community, so thank you."

She said Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit and SCHS held 38 pop-up vaccination clinics across the past four months in a bid improve access to the vaccine for community members who could not access SCHS's mainstream service.

Acting LMPHU director Dr Daryl Kroschel said with demand for vaccination gradually decreasing, it was important to match resources accordingly.

"We want to retain a vaccinating presence in Mildura, which will come in the form of a reduced capacity pop-up style clinic," Mr Kroschel said.

"GPs and pharmacists have done the bulk of the vaccinating since February and they're still vaccinating. Now is a sensible time to reduce SCHS clinic operations."

Vaccination providers in Mildura can be found at: www.murrayphn.org.au/vaccination_nw/