Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan on Gatton, Laidley Pfizer hubs opening for walk-ins

Two Pfizer vaccine hubs will soon open in a southeast Queensland region after concerns were raised about residents’ ability to access the jab and the small percentage who had been vaccinated. SEE WHERE THEY ARE

Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan admitted she wasn’t in a great mood during an online meeting with health authorities while her region was locked down in early August.

Cr Milligan, who has been mayor for five years and ran unopposed at last year’s election, stressed her community’s frustration about long waits for a local appointment or needing to travel elsewhere to get vaccinated.

Now two Pfizer hubs will be set up in the region’s two main towns next week, organised by the Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network.

Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan.

According to the latest figures from the end of August, 39 per cent of Lockyer Valley residents have received their first jab and 20 per cent have had two doses.

Across the West Moreton region, more than 38,000 doses have been administered so far but only 107 of those have been at the Gatton Hospital.

Hubs will be set up at the revamped Gatton Shire Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday next week and at the Laidley Sports Complex on Thursday and Friday.

Walk-ins are available but appointments are encouraged as spaces are limited.

The Gatton Shire Hall was recently overhauled. Photo: LVRC

Priority will be given to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; aged care workers, residents, and carers; disability workers, participants, and carers; people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness; culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse people; and people who do not have a Medicare card or are not eligible for Medicare including farm workers.

“Rural and regional communities think we’re pretty safe as we’ve had no cases,” Cr Milligan said.

“But I think visual prompts about having a hub in our region enforces the need to wear masks and get vaccinated.

Vaccination statistics for Queensland councils.

“I’m really excited and really happy our community has access to it. It will be really accessible even for the vulnerable in our community. If you’re an aged care worker or a truck driver or a busy mum trying to get that appointment. You can just walk in.

“You don’t have to have a Medicare card. Farm workers are transient, they move from farm to farm and not everyone has a Medicare card.”

Cr Milligan, who has had two jabs herself, said there was “no excuse” not to get vaccinated with many residents telling her they’d had to travel to Ipswich or Toowoomba.

“I think there’s work to be done (on local vaccination rates),” she said.

Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan. Just 20 per cent of Lockyer Valley residents have received two Covid-19 vaccine doses.

“It’s all a personal choice. I can’t make people get vaccinated. My person view is it’s for the greater good and Covid isn’t going anywhere.”

The Gatton hub will be open from 7am to 5pm on September 7 and 10am to 7pm on September 8.

The Laidley hub will be open from 7am to 5pm on September 9 and 10am to 7pm on September 10.

You can call 4615 0932 to make an appointment.

The West Moreton Health’s vaccination team is in Esk up until Saturday and will return in three weeks to administer second doses.

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.