Almost half of residents in Central West are fully vaccinated

One particular region has almost half of its eligible residents fully vaccinated, with more than 60 per cent who have received at least the first dose of the Covid vaccine.

Almost half of all residents in the Central West have been fully vaccinated, with about 63 per cent of eligible Central West residents having received at least a first dose of either AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine.

Almost half of all eligible residents in the Central West have been fully vaccinated, with numbers increasing after a flight attendant travelled to Longreach while infectious with Covid.

Central West Hospital and Health Service executive director of Medical Services Dr David Walker said total numbers continued to track well, with about 63 per cent of eligible Central West residents having received at least a first dose of either AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine.

About 46.5 per cent of all eligible Central West residents are now fully vaccinated with both first and second doses.

Central West Health has also partnered with the Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland and Western Queensland Primary Health Network to deliver 9700 doses of the vaccination, so far, to regional and remote communities.

Pfizer clinics at Winton and Barcaldine recorded excellent attendances at the end of July, following the announcement that a flight attendant, who later tested positive to Covid, was on a flight between Brisbane and Longreach.

Dr Walker said the incident was a timely reminder for all residents to be vaccinated.

“I think the potential this incident represented for exposing our communities to Covid was a big wake-up call for many Central West residents and I have no doubt it contributed to the big turnouts at Winton and Barcaldine,’’ he said.

Dr Walker said 483 people were vaccinated at Winton alone last week and a further 403 people were vaccinated at Barcaldine.

Central West Health Executive Director of Medical Services Dr David Walker.

“In addition, we delivered 26 Pfizer vaccines at Blackall and another 35 vaccinations at Alpha, which included both Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses,’’ he said.

“We also ran a special pop-up clinic at Longreach on Wednesday, July 28, in response to public interest following the flight attendant incident last week and this clinic was fully subscribed,’’ he said.

“We will be back in Longreach offering Pfizer vaccinations from 2-4 August and again on 24 August

“I encourage as many people as possible to be vaccinated in the coming weeks as we and our partners continue to deliver vaccination clinics across the region.”

Central West Health is offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to everyone who has had the first dose of the vaccine without any serious adverse effects, including adults aged under 50 years.

Everyone else, aged 16 and over, who has not yet had a first dose of Covid – 19 vaccine, is being offered Pfizer.

Upcoming AstraZeneca catch-up clinics:

• Longreach: August 5, at the Longreach Civic & Cultural Centre
• Winton: August 12, at the Winton Hospital.

Upcoming Pfizer clinics, first and second doses:

• Longreach: (inc. Muttaburra- Isisford) August 2-4, at the Longreach Civic & Cultural Centre
• Blackall: August 9-10 (phone the Longreach call centre on 1800 953 703) – includes Tambo and Isisford communities
• Windorah: August 10 (RFDS clinic – please book at the Windorah PHC 4565 6100)
• Stonehenge: August 11 (RFDS clinic – please book at the RFDS Charleville Base 4654 1233)
• Yaraka: August 11 (RFDS clinic – please book at the RFDS Charleville Base 4654 1233)
• Jundah: August 17 (RFDS clinic – please book at the RFDS Charleville Base 4654 1233)
• Barcaldine: August 17 (phone the Longreach call centre on 1800 953 703) – includes Alpha, Jericho, Aramac and Muttaburra communities
• Birdsville: August 18 (RFDS clinic – please book at the Birdsville PHC 4656 3245)
• Longreach: August 24 (phone the Longreach call centre on 1800 953 703) – includes Muttaburra and Isisford communities
• Winton: August 25-26 (phone the Longreach call centre on 1800 953 703)