Queensland’s coronavirus vaccine campaign starts on Gold Coast

A frontline healthcare worker has become the first person in Queensland to get a COVID-19 vaccination. WATCH THE VIDEO

Queensland’s coronavirus vaccine campaign has started in earnest on the Gold Coast.

Just after 8am, registered nurse Zoe Park received the state’s first COVID-19 jab from clinical nurse consultant Kellie Kenway at Gold Coast University Hospital.

She is one of 100 frontline heroes lined up to receive the jab on Monday.

Gold Coast University Hospital is one of six hubs where the vaccine is being rolled out across the state.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said it had been 391 days since Queensland had its first case of COVID-19 was admitted at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

It comes as two new cases were recorded from overseas arrivals today.

Registered nurse Zoe Park gets the first COVID-19 jab from clinical nurse consultant Kellie Kenway. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“The only way we could come out of this was the vaccination,” Ms D’Ath said.

“In all this positive news today we must remember the risk is still here.”

She said there were seven active cases in Queensland today.

Ms D’Ath said the 11,000 doses of vaccine that will arrive in Queensland will be shared between frontline workers and the aged care sector.

“Our priority are this group that are working on the front line.”

Zoe Park, who was the first Queenslander to receive the vaccine said the vaccine hurt less than the flu shot.

“I would encourage everyone to get it,” she said.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young at the Gold Coast University Hospital for the start of Queensland’s vaccine campaign. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Speaking to The Courier-Mail, the 25-year-old nurse said she understood the importance of being the first to receive the vaccination and hoped it would inspire people of all ages of the

importance of the jab in the fight against COVID-19.

“I think it’s important to set an example,” she said.

“I was always going to get the vaccine, but to be first is a real added bonus.

“My age group is the age group probably least likely to feel like they need to get the jab, but I want to show that everyone should get it.”

Ms Park has worked as a nurse for six years, first at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital before moving to the Gold Coast University Hospital in April last year.

She said she had seen first-thank the devastation the virus was capable of, working in the GCUH COVID-19 ward.

“We have COVID positive patients on the ward at the moment,” she said.

“It’s a very serious thing. I’ve seen families being torn apart by it.

“It’s really scary.

“I definitely feel safer going to work now.”

Ms Park grew up wanting to become a nurse, inspired by her grandmother who also worked as a nurse.

She spoke of her parents soon after receiving the jab.

“They’re very proud and really excited,” she said

“They know it’s really important.”

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the plan was to vaccinate every single adult Queenslander as quickly as possible.

“We are now at over 1,300 cases and rolling out a vaccine in a pandemic,” she said.

“It’s the start of where we’ll be able to move.”

It comes after two planes full of 10,000 precious vials touched down yesterday – one in Brisbane and one in Cairns – as vaccine hubs whirr into gear this week, with the first inoculation happening at 8.30am today on the Gold Coast.