Data shows Wide Bay residents rolling up their sleeves to get covid vaccination

As restrictions remain in place in the South East and Cairns, increasing numbers in Wide Bay have rolled up their sleeves to get the jab and an additional vaccine clinic just for school staff and volunteers is set to open soon.

As both Cairns and the South East continue under covid restrictions following snap lockdowns, Wide Bay locals have continued to do their part to stop the spread of covid.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service COVID-19 Vaccine Lead Fiona Sewell said more than 45 per cent of people in the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service region had received at least one covid vaccine dose.

“There has been great enthusiasm in the Bundaberg and Fraser Coast communities, and across the Wide Bay, to support the local rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations,” she said.

“It’s fantastic that people are willing to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their loved ones and the general community.”

Ms Sewell said the regular vaccine clinics in Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Maryborough have constantly been busy with appointments and outreach clinics had also seen good numbers vaccinated in smaller towns across the region.

“Across our region 120,480 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered – including more than 39,000 at our Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service vaccine clinics,” she said.

“A total of 80,102 people have received at least one vaccine dose. That means more than 45 per cent of people in our region have received at least one dose – placing us among the best regions in the state for vaccine coverage.”

Earlier this week Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the 16-59 age group were eligible to register to receive their covid vaccine.

Across the state there have been more than 200,000 registrations, with a mass vaccination hub opening in Brisbane.

Ms Sewell said she encouraged staff and volunteers at local schools and kindergartens to get their vaccination.

She said an additional vaccine clinic just for school staff and volunteers would open next week.

“Registering for vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against the virus and to ensure you can get back to a normal way of life that is no longer restricted by Covid-19,” she said.

“I particularly encourage any staff or volunteers at our local schools and kindergartens to come in for vaccination.

“As a priority group, we will vaccinate them as soon as possible. and they only need to bring their ID or proof of employment.

“Our Bundaberg clinic is open every Monday from 11am to 7pm to enable people to come in after work and the team will be putting on an additional clinic for school staff and volunteers only, next week.”

Between Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Maryborough a total of more than 2500 covid tests were done across the region from August 4 to 10.

In that week there were 841 tests in Bundaberg, with 178 tests being done on August 4 and 163 on August 9.

Meanwhile in Hervey Bay a total of 1216 tests were conducted in that same week, with the busiest days each seeing more than 200 tests done.

In Maryborough 479 covid tests were done at their fever clinic in that week.