Covid SA: Family-only vax clinic to open as jab incentive scheme launched

More than half of eligible South Australians have had their Covid booster vaccine, as a financial scheme is launched to boost jabs at GP clinics and chemists, and a new family-only clinic is set to open.

More than half of eligible South Australians have their Covid-19 booster vaccine, as a new financial scheme is launched to boost jabs at family doctor clinics and chemists.

Latest SA Health data shows 52 per cent of adults have received their third Covid-19 jab after a record surge of vaccinations in the past week.

Figures reveal 329,009 third doses have been administered while almost 630,000 people have been eligible ahead of an Omicron peak predicted to hit in the next 10 days.

A week ago, just 39 per cent of eligible patients had had a booster shot.

SA is expected to hit its 90 per cent jab milestone for those 12 and up on January 24.

Separate figures show 15,051 first Pfizer doses have been administered to children aged five to 11 in the first five days of the paediatric program.

Premier Steven Marshall said on Saturday a family-only clinic would open at SA Health’s Enfield vaccination hub on Monday to help boost child doses.

“I’m absolutely blown away at the pace South Australians are rolling up their sleeves to get boosted,” Mr Marshall said.

“As I’ve said since the day one, and every day since – vaccination is key to protecting our families, friends, work colleagues and the entire state.”

Premier Steven Marshall has announced new vaccine incentives for GPs and chemists. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Mr Marshall also announced a $1.075 million grant scheme for more than 600 Commonwealth primary care providers, including GPs and pharmacies, to administer more vaccines.

A financial incentive of up to $15 per additional vaccine will be paid to metropolitan and suburban facilities and a maximum $20 per jab for country and remote clinics.

The first-time grants will help pharmacies and GPs extend opening hours, recruit additional immunisers and support staff, as well as expand home-based services.

It will also help pay for promotions, particularly to high-risk groups, Mr Marshall said.

He said the funding boost would help increase capacity over the next crucial few weeks.

“We know vaccination is the best available defence against the emergence of Omicron and its fast spread through the South Australian community,” he said.

Deputy chief public health officer, Dr Emily Kirkpatrick, said primary care providers were encouraged to investigate creating more appointments until the end of next month.

“With children aged five to 11 now eligible for their vital first dose, and current advice for adults recommending a four-month interval between the second dose and booster, vaccination appointments will be in high demand,” she said.

“We want to ensure there are appointments available not just at our SA Health dedicated sites, but also with our primary care providers.”

The Women’s and Children’s Health Network-operated Enfield clinic will now have 700 more appointments available each week.

“This will provide whole families to get the jab at one convenient location, at the same time,” Mr Marshall said.

“This means more jabs in the arms of our youngest South Australians, and their brothers, sisters and parents.”

SA has so far been allocated 250,000 paediatric doses of vaccines for the state’s 148,000 children aged 5-11.

Authorities expect parents to have almost 120,000 of those children, or about 80 per cent, vaccinated.

The start of term 1, now delayed to February 2, will include a hybrid model of classroom and home schooling, as foreshadowed by The Advertiser.