Mount Gambier vaccine hub denied Covid-19 jab to quarantining South Australian

A regional Covid-19 vaccination hub has wrongly refused a jab for a man in quarantinie, despite being on several wait lists – and no coronavirus within a “cooee”.

A regional South Australian has missed a rare Covid-19 vaccination appointment after he was given conflicting advice about his eligibility for the jab while quarantining.

Mount Gambier’s Paul Clark was on a boys’ trip to Cairns when South Australia’s borders slammed shut to Queensland.

He flew home via Adelaide Airport as scheduled last Wednesday where he was told by border control he could leave his quarantine address for medical treatment, including receiving the vaccine.

Paul Clark is quarantined in Mount Gambier after returning from Cairns and despite being told on his arrival to South Australia he could leave isolation to receive his pre-booked Covid-19 vaccine, he was denied the appointment. Picture: Supplied

“They said we definitely want you to go and get that done,” Mr Clark said.

But on Monday, unable to contact the Mount Gambier Central Shopping Centre Covid-19 vaccination clinic directly, his wife attended to ask on his behalf only to be told he could not.

“I’ve tried calling SA Health and the Covid Hotline, it is just an absolute bloody nightmare,” he said.

“You’ve got two different departments giving you two different messages, it doesn’t make any sense.

“The Covid hotline couldn’t be more useless if they tried, it directs you to a website that not even Einstein could understand.”

On Wednesday a Limestone Coast Local Health Network spokesperson confirmed those in quarantine can be vaccinated but must call ahead to ensure safety measures are implemented including face mask requirements.

“We have received recent advice that people can attend their Covid-19 vaccination appointments while they complete quarantine after being in an interstate restricted zone,” the spokesperson said.

“This is provided they have not been directed to quarantine by the Communicable Disease Control Branch (SA Health) or have been at an interstate exposure location at the specified date and time.

“This advice is in line with the current Cross Border Travel Direction, which allows access to medical care however excludes the Women’s and Children’s Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic which is a high-risk site.”

Eighteen months into the pandemic, Mr Clark said it was time to have clearer communication.

“You would think we’d have some of this right,” he said.

“I was extremely disappointed as I am very pro-vaccine and have been on several wait lists for a few months.

“The sooner we all get vaccinated, I believe the country will be in a far better place.

Travel restrictions with parts of Queensland have now been lifted, but key parts of the South East remain closed (level 6 restrictions).

“We’ve got the Brisbane Lions flying into Adelaide to play footy and poor old Paul is sitting down here in Mount Gambier when there’s no Covid within cooee,” he said.

Those waiting in the Mount Gambier Covid testing clinic line are predicting a 2 to 3 hour wait. Picture: Jessica Ball

The news comes a week after overwhelmed Mount Gambier Showgrounds Covid-19 testing clinic staff staged a walkout while data revealed the city’s vaccination rates are lagging behind the state average.

Compared to 22.5 per cent of South Australian adults who have received their first dose, Mount Gambier’s postcodes 5290 and 5921, are at 21.77 and 11.01 per cent respectively.

As of Wednesday evening there were only two appointments available at the clinic for a first dose until September 27.