Woolworths turns shuttered Big W stores into vaccine pop-up hubs

Woolworths is rolling out a program in western Sydney to set up vaccine hubs at shuttered Big W stores.

A Woolworths staff member is vaccinated at the Big W store in Wetherill Park in Sydney's west. Picture: Dallas Kilponen

Woolworths is the latest corporate to pledge its commitment to support the ambition of federal and state governments to hit Covid-19 vaccination levels, with the retailer to administer up to 20,000 vaccine doses for team and family members in closed Big W stores.

A pilot clinic at one shuttered Big W store in Sydney had already racked up 200 vaccines in its first week.

Woolworths has launched a vaccination hub to deliver vaccines to its team members and family members in western Sydney LGAs severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the assistance of the federal government National Covid Vaccine Taskforce, Woolworths has established pop-up vaccination hubs at its shuttered Wetherill Park and Canterbury-Bankstown Big W stores. Another hub is set to open at Big W’s Carnes Hill store to help cover the Liverpool and Canterbury LGA communities later in the month.

The three Big W stores have been closed to in-store customers since late July.

Woolworths is also working to roll out rapid antigen testing across all of its distribution sites after a successful trial of the Covid tool at four worksites in Sydney.

The rapid testing station has been expanded to 11 sites across NSW and Victoria. A further eight sites will be added in the coming weeks.

Under the retailer’s guidelines Woolworths team members and contractors must now conduct rapid antigen tests in a pop-up clinic before entering work sites.

Woolworths has conducted more than 54,000 tests. As a result of rapid antigen testing, Woolworths said it hasn’t had a major Covid-19 exposure in its distribution centres since August 27.

Woolworths head of Covid response, Ross Spencer, said the retailer was pleased to play a part in accelerating the vaccine rollout.

“Making vaccine access easy and simple is key to driving uptake. We’ve seen that in our distribution centres already and we’re seeing it now as we stand up these vaccination hubs,” Mr Spencer said.

“Our pilot clinic in Wetherill Park has administered more than 200 doses in the first week and bookings are growing as more team members become familiar with it.

“We’re working with the federal government to open similar vaccination hubs across the country as opportunities become available.”

Woolworths has linked up with accredited provider International SOS to lead the vaccination process, governance, and reporting requirements to NSW Health.

“By teaming up with accredited partners the vaccination hubs do not remove trained people from the government’s existing vaccination programs,” Woolworths said.

Woolworths has also hosted pop-up clinics that have been operating at distribution and fulfilment centres since July, with these sites delivering more than 7500 doses to frontline retail workers.

Woolworths also provides up to eight hours of paid Covid-19 vaccination leave (taken as two instances of four hours) for frontline team members.

Last month the federal government finalised details of a no fault Covid-19 Vaccine Claim Scheme following consultation with peak medical, healthcare, business and insurance sectors.

The Business Council of Australia welcomed the indemnity scheme, saying the nation’s employers now had greater certainty and confidence to manage Covid-19 workplace vaccinations.

“Business is determined to help protect the health of the community, and one of the important roles we are playing is providing workplace vaccination programs to keep our teams safe,” BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott said.

“The federal government’s delivery of a national no fault Covid-19 vaccine claim scheme will ensure Australians are protected, while removing the legal uncertainty for employers of all sizes administering vaccinations.

“The job of business is to help accelerate vaccine take up. (The indemnity scheme) will give thousands of businesses the confidence to get on with this task.”

Originally published as Woolworths turns shuttered Big W stores into vaccine pop-up hubs