Hundreds roll up sleeves for the Pfizer vaccine in Mackay’s Covid-19 vaccination hub

A steady steam of aged care workers, disability health workers and residents aged 40-49 fronted up to the CQUniversity hub.

Hundreds of people rolled up their sleeves for the Pfizer vaccine when Mackay’s Covid-19 vaccination hub expanded its hours to the weekend.

A steady steam of aged care workers, disability health workers and residents aged 40-49 fronted up at the CQUniversity hub – some walk-ins and some booked in.

With a friendly team and a seamless process, the process was over quickly and painlessly for most.

Rick and Julie Brake were visiting Mackay for business and were thrilled to be able to get their vaccines after what seemed like an endless struggle in Brisbane.

“We tried to get ours done at home in Brisbane but it was just getting ridiculous,” Mr Brake said.

“Our doctor would cancel on us, and it was only open on Wednesdays.

“This is our fourth time lucky.

“This clinic is great, we should have centres like this in Brisbane.”

Jason Newitt was a local to Mackay and said the extended hours were a game changer.

“I wouldn’t have been able to get it on a weekday, being open on a Sunday made it possible for me to do,” he said.
“It was great, the staff were great.”

Mackay Hospital and Health Service Covid-19 vaccination team nurse unit manager Sonia Davids said the hub had about 160 people receive the Pfizer vaccine on Saturday, with many recipients turning up before 10am and about 50 walk-ins.

She said people were turning up later on the Sunday but the clinic was busy by lunchtime with lots of bookings and only 10 walk-ins by then.

“We weren’t turning anyone away,” she said.

“It’s been a mix of everybody 40-49, residential aged care facility healthcare workers as well as some disability healthcare workers.

“I was expecting more today (Sunday) because we’ve managed to distribute some flyers to our aged care facilities.

“We wanted to try and let their staff know if they’re having any difficulties booking that they can walk in because we try to prioritise them.

“Even if they are in the queue, we try to pull them in first for them to get vaccinated.

“But the walk-ins are not interrupting our flow because we’re still maintaining everybody’s appointments.

Mackay registered nurse Alison Cooper checking in patients at the new vaccination hub at CQUniversity's Mackay city campus. Picture: Rae Wilson

“We are trying to make the process as fast and as smooth as possible so people can get on with their day.”

Ms Davids said she was pleased to see so many people turning up over the weekend and her team had no wastage of the vaccine, which must be kept at -80C until drawn for injection.

But she said the nurses had some difficult conversations explaining to some people over 50 years of age that they did not qualify for the Pfizer vaccine.

Daily Mercury editor Rae Wilson getting her Covid-19 Pfizer vaccination at the new vaccination hub at CQUniversity's Mackay city campus.

Ms Davids said there needed to be particular medical conditions or they had experienced a severe anaphylactic reaction to the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

But she said walk-ins who did not qualify could go on a waiting list for any leftover doses each day.

Pfizer vaccine in vials at CQUniversity's Mackay city campus where a new vaccination hub has been set up. Picture: Rae Wilson

“The main thing is we don’t want to have any wastage and so far we haven’t.”

Kerry Esmond was on her way to Bunnings when she noticed the hub.

“This was really good, we were able to walk right in and it was just like a flu shot,” she said.

Chris and Juliene Bensen were relieved to be able to get their vaccine after trying multiple times through their GP and the hospital.

“I tried with my GP but they said they were still going through the 80 year olds,” Mrs Bensen said.

“There was no hassle here, we were able to walk straight in.”

Originally published as Hundreds roll up sleeves for the Pfizer vaccine in Mackay’s Covid-19 vaccination hub