Woorabinda mayor Joshua Weazel says shire needs better information and vaccine access after reveal of vaccination rate

Joshua Weazel said social media and infrequent vaccination clinics had contributed to the shire’s 41.3 per cent single-dose vaccination rate and 32.3 per cent double-dose rate, based on a population of about 1200 people.

The mayor of Woorabinda says low vaccination rates within the Indigenous shire need to be countered with better information and vaccine access.

Cr Joshua Weazel said social media and infrequent vaccination clinics had contributed to the shire’s 41.3 per cent single-dose vaccination rate and 32.3 per cent double-dose rate as of November 1, based on a population of about 1200 people.

“Our community has encountered the vaccinations a lot earlier than some of the other Indigenous communities and we’ve had two-weekly intervals for vaccinations,” he said.

“We’ve advocated to have the vaccines stored at our hospital and delivered by clinicians here on the ground.

“We have increased our capability as a community to have the vaccination done from fortnightly to weekly, but the issue still remains: clinicians on the ground being able to deliver the vaccination in a timely manner and at a point in time of care is still becoming difficult.

“It’s a very sad reality that if our vaccination rates don’t increase, our people will effectively be moving away from community to be taken care [of] in health care services that are outside the community … we could lose a lot of people.

“It [the vaccine] has been available; I think it's come back to the misinformation that has led to the lack of uptake on the vaccination.”

As of October 31, 67.3 per cent of Banana Shire residents had received one vaccine dose, as had 63.9 per cent of those in the Central Highlands, 71.4 per cent in Livingstone, and 71.8 per cent in Rockhampton.

A total of 1,082 vaccines have been administered at the Woorabinda Multipurpose Health Service as of November 4, and of the 2,092 COVID-19 cases recorded in Queensland so far, 23 have been detected in First Nations people.

LNP leader David Crisafulli visited Woorabinda on Friday.

“Right now in Indigenous communities there are two things that need to happen to lift the vaccination rate: one is confidence and the other is access, and you can’t improve what you don’t measure,” he said.

“I’ve been saying consistently that I would like to see the data in real time for all the state’s 17 Indigenous councils. At the moment we only have data for two.”

“We’ve got to stop the mixed messaging; we’ve got to stop the rubbish that’s getting around on Facebook that’s undermining confidence, and the State Government owes it to communities like this to roll out people who are trusted to counter that message.”

A Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service spokesman said CQ Health was taking a “multi-pronged approach” to promoting vaccinations in Woorabinda.

“CQ Health is working with many other agencies, including the local PHN, Aboriginal health services Bidgerdii, Nhulundu and Yoonthalla, Woorabinda Aboriginal Council and other groups,” she said.

“There’s not a one-size-fits-all solution to this issue, and we’re taking a multi-pronged approach by all groups in the community to target and tailor the best options for local people.

“We have held clinics at community locations in Woorabinda as well as regular clinics at the hospital.

“There are also family fun nights every Thursday from 6pm to 9pm at Woorabinda, and a Friday morning clinic will run from 10am to 12pm every week. Local GPs are also starting to vaccinate.

“The Johnathan Thurston Academy is also planning a visit to Woorabinda to promote uptake of the vaccination.”

Note: This story previously had Woorabinda’s vaccination rates at 29 per cent for single-dose and 22 per cent for double-dose vaccinations. The accurate figures according to Queensland Health are now reflected above.