The Victorian Government has announced a five day “vaccination blitz” to address the COVID-19 safety concerns of staff and residents in private aged care and residential disability homes.
From tomorrow until Sunday, June 6, workers in private aged care facilities and the residential disability sector will be given priority access at walk-in vaccination hubs around Victoria between 9am and 4pm, Victorian Health Minister, Martin Foley announced today.
“Victorians have come out in force to get vaccinated in the past week – now we’re stepping in to make sure those who work in our most vulnerable settings have priority access to a vaccine to protect our most at-risk groups,” the Minister said.
“We’ve seen first-hand the devastation coronavirus causes among our aged and disability care population – alongside getting tested and isolating, vaccination is the best way to protect the most vulnerable Victorians.”
He said that while the Commonwealth will continue to be responsible for in-reach in disability residential settings, the Victorian Government will also work with providers to support access to state-run vaccination sites to increase the current low level of vaccinations.
“Outbreaks across Australia have shown how fast coronavirus can spread across these sensitive facilities – and while all public sector residential aged care centres have been visited by state-run outreach teams for first vaccine doses, private facilities have lower vaccination rates and are significantly more susceptible to ongoing outbreaks,” Mr Foley said.
The following vaccination centres are participating in the five-day blitz:
- – Royal Exhibition Building
- – Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
- – Sandown Racecourse
- – Melbourne Showgrounds
- – Former Ford Factory – Geelong
- – Bendigo Community Clinic
- – Ballarat Mercure Hotel and Convention Centre
- – Shepparton Showgrounds – McIntosh Centre
- – Traralgon Racecourse
- – Wodonga Vaccination Hub
Mr Foley said aged care and disability staff would get priority access to vaccination during the five-day blitz to ensure they could be vaccinated quickly during peak periods and did not need to book in advance.
“All dedicated and hardworking aged care and disability workers need easy access to the vaccine, so we’re making it easier for them,” said Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Luke Donnellan.
National Disability Insurance Scheme participants and other community members currently eligible for the vaccination program are also able to access their vaccinations at state-run vaccination sites.
Victoria has experienced record vaccination uptake over the past week. In the week ending Sunday, 95,676 doses were administered through state-run centres – an increase of 66% over the previous week.
Victorians are encouraged to continue booking their vaccine appointments through the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 or by visiting walk-up centres if they are over 50.
