Geelong region’s Covid vaccination rates continue to surge

New data has revealed Covid vaccination rates in the Geelong region have continued to surge.

MORE than 95 per cent of people aged 15 and up in the Geelong region have had at least one Covid vaccine dose, new federal government data reveals.

And 75.9 per cent were fully vaccinated as of Sunday, up from 69.2 per cent a week earlier.

The only region in Victoria with a higher rate for fully vaccinated people 15 and over was Warrnambool and the South West, which was at 76.2 per cent.

For people aged 15 and up in local council areas, the statistics showed as of Sunday:

IN Greater Geelong, 74.6 per cent were fully vaccinated;

ON the Surf Coast, 85.3 per cent were doubled jabbed; and,

FOR the Borough of Queenscliffe, more than 95 per cent were fully vaccinated.

However, state opposition spokesman for Aboriginal affairs Peter Walsh said data from the federal government revealed serious gaps in Victoria’s vaccine rollout in Indigenous communities.

The data showed in the Geelong region, 52.13 per cent of Indigenous people aged 15 and over were fully vaccinated as of Tuesday last week.

“High vaccination rates are the key to protecting ourselves and those around us, particularly vulnerable members of the community,” Mr Walsh said.

“But immunisation is dangerously low in Victoria’s Aboriginal communities, which will leave many people exposed as the statewide double dose benchmarks are reached.”

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative acting chief executive Simon Flagg said the organisation had been working closely with services including Barwon Health since the start of the rollout.

“Over the past few months in particular we have seen the vaccination rates in our community skyrocket,” Mr Flagg said.

“We are at the forefront of getting the message out to our mob and supporting them to be vaccinated.

“We are confident that our continued efforts will reach those who are yet to be vaccinated and our highest priority is to make sure that our community is protected and safe.”

Geelong mutlicultural clinics

Meanwhile, the Barwon Health South West public health unit in partnership with Diversitat has now supported six vaccination pop-up clinics with language support at Diversitat’s Northern Community Hub, with four more planned this month.

Each clinic, which has supported a different culturally and linguistic diverse group,

has been fully booked – a showcase of the Geelong community coming forward to protect each other.

Barwon Health’s vaccination operations manager Deb Kay believes the partnership has

helped ensure people feel comfortable and supported when receiving their vaccination,

“Working with partners like Diversitat is key to reaching vulnerable communities in our

region,” she said.

“The local community have been amazing coming forward and getting vaccinated.”

Originally published as Geelong region’s Covid vaccination rates continue to surge