Cairns Covid-19: Yarrabah and Douglas Shire Indigenous leaders call for vaccine surge

Some of the Far North’s most respected Indigenous leaders have pleaded with vaccine hesitant residents to “get serious” and “get off Dr Google” as the region attempts to open to the rest of the country and the world.

SOME of the Far North’s most respected Indigenous leaders have pleaded with vaccine hesitant residents to “get serious” and “get off Dr Google” as the region attempts to open to the rest of the country and the world.

It comes after a bombshell letter sent from the federal government emerged this week, stating the international airport could remain shut until March 26 in order to protect vulnerable communities with lagging vaccination rates.

Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Ross Andrews said he backed a push for residents of his town and others across the Cape to roll up their sleeve.

Yarrabah mayor Ross Andrews has encouraged vulnerable communities to come forward and get fully vaccinated. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We need to get serious, we have a vulnerable community,” he said.

“We have massive overcrowding issues, but we have this vaccine.

“It’s safe, it’s free and it protects us.
“I’ve had my two doses and I’m calling on everyone to come forward and do the same.”

Walkabout Cultural Adventures guide and respected Indigenous leader Juan Walker said vaccine hesitancy inside remote communities was caused by a number of factors, including misinformation on social media.

He said it was important people “protected themselves and their families.”

“We have been really lucky, we haven’t really seen the affect and the damage caused by this virus yet, and I think that is one of the reasons for the lag,” he said.

“Some of the stuff on social media is also scaring people.”

Walkabout Cultural Adventures guide Juan Walker. Photo: James Fisher

Mr Andrews said residents needed to “Get off Dr Google” and “get the facts from qualified medical practitioners.”

“A lot of people are getting their information from Facebook, which can be real trouble,” he said.

These comments came as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tweeted a short and sharp message to her state’s residents.

“Two days left. Two words for Queensland. Get Vaccinated.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visiting a vaccination clinic. Photo: Jack Tran

Meanwhile, the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation confirmed it had purchased more than $2m worth of equipment to prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks in part to a generous donation of $650,000 by Cairns couple Alex and Violetta Sekler last year.

On Thursday a spokeswoman for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation confirmed that items purchased included: ventilators, Pegaso a-Cough, ultrasound machines, defibrillators and video laryngoscopes.

It is understood that during 2019/2020 financial year the FNQHF spent around $2,023,711.58 on these items.

The annual report called the fundraising campaign, “a massive success.”

“The impact of Covid-19 pandemic response and recovery resulted in the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation significantly refocusing its services in the second half of the 2019-20 year,” the report said.

“Instead of slowing down, the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation approached the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service with a plan to help fund any needed hospital equipment to better prepare the regional health services.

“The Join the fight against Covid-19 campaign was a massive success.”

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Originally published as Cairns Covid-19: Yarrabah and Douglas Shire Indigenous leaders call for vaccine surge