Flying Doctor to help vaccinate Kangaroo Island
To save a trip to the mainland, Kangaroo Islanders will get their vaccines courtesy of some flights from the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
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It is the Flying Doctor to the rescue — yet again — of a regional community to vaccinate the entire adult population of Kangaroo Island.
After fears KI locals would have to travel to the mainland for jabs, a deal will see 3500 vaccines delivered over three months from June 8 in the Kingscote town hall open 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Saturday.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network and the Kangaroo Island Council will run the six-day a week program which should see the entire adult population vaccinated over three months. The permanent population of KI is about 4200.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines will be available and the plan will have capacity to deliver more than 150 vaccinations per day.
“We are focused on providing a safe and steady vaccine rollout for the community to ensure everyone has access to this vital vaccination,” Mr Wade said.
A team was sent to Kangaroo Island earlier this month to vaccinate priority groups including frontline healthcare workers, aged care residents and emergency workers as part of Phase 1a and 1b.
Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network chief executive Rebecca Graham said the network is working closely with Royal Flying Doctor Service and the local council.
“We are pleased to have administered more than 1000 vaccinations across the Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network to priority groups in Phase 1a and 1b, and this number will be further bolstered as we scale up the vaccine rollout and deliver these vaccines to the community,” she said.
RFDS spokeswoman Natalie Szabo, said: “The RFDS is proud to deliver integrated emergency aeromedical and primary health care to rural and remote communities across South Australia.
“We’re pleased to partner with the Barossa Hills Fleurieu LHN to offer a safe, quality vaccination service to the Kangaroo Island community.”
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