Mackay COVID vaccination hub hours extended in bid to increase vax rate

Mackay’s Covid-19 vaccination efforts are ramping up with more jabs, longer hours and police keeping atop of compliance including at the footy. What you need to know.

Three people have been fined for “blatantly and wilfully” disregarding Covid-19 directions in Mackay as vaccination rates ramp up.

All patrons at Friday night’s NRL clash between the Raiders and Warriors must wear a mask under a mandate that extends beyond return travellers from declared hot spots.

Covid compliance

Mackay District Disaster Coordinator Superintendent Glen Morris said police issued three Mackay residents with infringement notices throughout August for “blatantly and wilfully” breaching Covid-19 directions.

“Can I just appeal to people that the directions exist for a reason and we’re fortunate in Queensland that there is no declared hot spots in our state,” Superintendent Morris said.

“But there are still a number of restrictions in the (11) local government areas in the southeast corner.

“If you’ve been in those areas and you come to our district, they apply to you here.”

Superintendent Morris said every person attending an NRL game at the BB Print Stadium in Mackay must wear a mask.

“Police will be in attendance at that venue,” he said, adding officers would be enforcing the chief health officer’s direction.

Superintendent Morris said police were also still checking every interstate flight arriving to Hamilton Island and Whitsunday airports with a scaled-back approach at Mackay Airport.

“We’ve got confidence in relation to the border measures that are existing in Brisbane,” he said.

More hours, more jabs

Mackay’s one-stop vaccination hub is expanding its hours to meet the influx of residents lining up to get their Covid jabs.

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert said the Mackay Showgrounds’ 500 Pavilion hub was now open from 9am to 3.30pm on Saturdays in addition to 9am to 4pm weekdays.

“Our rate of vaccinations is going up all the time and we want to keep that momentum up,” Mrs Gilbert said.

“We’ve had over 6500 vaccinations at this hub since we opened up a couple of weeks ago so good work Mackay, make sure you keep it up.

“Don’t leave it until we get Covid outbreaks in Queensland.

“You do need a couple of weeks for that immunity to start building in your body.”

Second from the bottom 

Mrs Gilbert said residents’ attitudes to getting the jab were shifting after it was revealed the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region’s vaccination rate ranking second last in Australia.

“They’re starting to look at what’s happening down in NSW and the fact that with all of the restrictions that Victoria puts in place, that they still have outbreaks,” Mrs Gilbert said.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said about 37 per cent of residents living in the Mackay Hospital and Health Service area had received their first vaccinations and the region was “rapidly catching up” to the nation.

Cr Williamson said he hoped the region could achieve between a 70 to 80 per cent vaccination rate by the year’s end.

“The fact that we’re (vaccinating) 600 people a day and ramping up indicates a couple of things, people are getting on board and the supply is already there,” he said.

Supplies locked in

MHHS nursing and midwifery executive director Julie Rampton said the region had secured extra Pfizer doses from overseas via the state command centre with vaccine supplies ensured until the end of October.

Ms Rampton said the Showgrounds hub was currently administering about 2500 doses per week and was working towards 7000 and beyond.

“We’re hoping to soon go to days a week here,” Ms Rampton said.

“At the moment we’re sourcing additional staff.”

She said the MHHS preferred residents booked their Covid vaccinations online but walk-ins would not be turned away.

“We don’t have a waitlist currently and we’ve opened up additional appointments,” Ms Rampton said.