250 staff, 40 stations: First look inside Gold Coast's mass vax hub

A new mass vaccination hub which is scheduled to have up to 250 staff and 40 vaccination stations in coming months is about to open on the Gold Coast. TAKE A LOOK INSIDE >>>

A NEW Gold Coast vaccination hub is scheduled to have up to 250 staff and 40 vaccination stations in coming months as more doses of the Covid-19 vaccine become available.

The Gold Coast vaccination hub, which opens on Monday, is one of two new Queensland hubs created to meet vaccine demand, along with a second location in Ipswich.

The purpose-built hub will open seven days a week from 7am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and 8.30am to 4pm Saturday-Sunday.

Gold Coast Health’s Dr Jeremy Wellwood said: “This vaccination hub, when we get more vaccines in September and October, is going to a beehive of activity.

“We’re going to have over 40 stations here operating from early in the morning to late in the evening.  We envisage a significant ability to ramp up the vaccinations so we can really get through all the people on the Gold Coast who want to be vaccinated.

“That’s the thing that’s going to make the difference for this pandemic.” 

Youth Affairs and Science Minister and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon joined Queensland Health's Dr Jeremy Wellwood to preview the new Broadbeach Community Vaccination Centre Exhibition Centre on the Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach. Picture Glenn Hampson

It replaces the Gold Coast University Hospital Vaccination Centre and Albert Waterways Vaccination Centre.

Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon said it would allow hospital staff to “get back to work – this will become the main hub on the Gold Coast for community vaccinations.

“This really allows GCUH to focus on their normal operations, surgery and looking after vulnerable patients, and it provides a facility with free parking, access to public transport.

“It makes it really easy for people to come forward and get vaccinated.”

All those eligible who wish to be vaccinated are encouraged to register for a vaccination appointment via the Gold Coast Health website. 

Youth Affairs and Science Minister and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon at the new Broadbeach Community Vaccination Centre Exhibition Centre on the Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach. Picture Glenn Hampson

JULY 10 - Where Gold Coast vaccine hubs could be 

Queenslanders could soon get their Covid-19 jab at Bunnings or an Outback hotel after more than 30 of Australia’s top business minds met for a roundtable.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said businesses such as major conglomerate Wesfarmers – which own Bunnings and Officeworks – had offered their premises as potential vaccination sites.

Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall welcomed the move, describing Australia’s “stroll in the park” vaccine approach as a “workplace health and safety issue in the making”.

Bunnings has been suggested as a vaccination hub.

Mr Hall said the rollout should not stop at Bunnings or Officeworks.

He said there was no reason why offices could not have a Covid-19 vaccine rollout in a similar fashion to the flu jab.

“We’ve got a large portion of medium and large businesses that have the capacity to facilitate this,” he said.

Covid-19 vaccine Qld: Plan to use Bunnings, Officeworks sites in rollout

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Speaking on a personal level, Gold Coast City councillor Peter Young said there were many council facilities that could be used.

“I would have thought they would have been the more logical locations for such facilities,” he said.

Councillor Peter Young at the City of Gold Coast's council meeting. Picture: Jerad Williams

Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt said Gold Coasters were paying the price for the bungled vaccine rollout and lack of purpose-built quarantine facilities.

“Vaccinations have always, and will always be, our ticket out of this pandemic,” Mr Watt said.

“But Gold Coasters can’t get vaccinated when we don’t have the vaccines.

“(Residents) have been hit hard by Covid and they know that until Scott Morrison fixes the vaccine rollout, international borders will stay closed, interstate lockdowns will keep happening and the tourism industry and local jobs will suffer.”

Offer on the table to get the jab and a snag at the same time. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jenny Evans

Would you go to Bunnings for the jab and a snag?

What readers said

SARAH ROBINSON: I’ll be using Mitre 10 instead.

MICHAEL LITTLEJOHN: Jab and free snag bring it on.

BILL RODGERS: Well I would have if I knew about the free snag. I’ve had both shots, though. All I got was a lolly and I had to ask for that. Can I just get a free snag at Bunnings?

TRACEY DRESCHER: Will they make you get the jab in the bottom and not up top in your arm like they do with the onions on a sausage sandwich?

COREY RIGNEY: Free snag with every jab, we about to be the most vaccinated country in the world.

JAMES QUINN: Yes makes complete sense … we must all be vaccinated against a virus so deadly and debilitating we need to get tested to know we have it.

MARY-ANNE LOWE: There is no issue with people going to the current vaccination centres which are sitting empty half the day! Ramp up the supply and get a stand by or walk up list happening for people who don’t show up to booked appointments – it’s not rocket science.

JADE GROSE: As long as I can have onion on top of my sausage.

JESS PUTLAND: Vaccination sausage for the win!

DAMO BRYANT: What a joke!

Originally published as 250 staff, 40 stations: First look inside Gold Coast's mass vax hub