Hundreds roll up sleeves, get jab at Stanthorpe Pfizer clinic

More than a tenth of the Stanthorpe population have received their first dose of the Covid vaccine, with residents from across the region making their way down to the showgrounds for day two of the Covid clinic.

Day two of the Stanthorpe Covid clinic drew in another big influx of people eager to roll up their sleeves for the Pfizer jab, with more than 500 locals receiving the vaccine so far.

Darling Downs Health Covid clinic team leader Sharyn Sharp said after a few hiccups on day one, the clinic ran a lot more smoothly on Wednesday.

“The computer issues, they have been sorted out and we haven’t had any wait times longer than an hour,” she said.

Mrs Sharp encouraged the community to register before heading down to the clinic to ensure a quicker check-in process.

“(Tuesday) we administered 396 vaccines and so far today there has 282,” she said.

Susan Anderson and her mum Robyn got the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday.

Ms Anderson said it was nice to see clinics rolled out in regional areas like Stanthorpe.

“I think it’s great. I think we’ve got to do something to protect ourselves as Covid isn’t going away,” she said.

It wasn’t just Stanthorpe residents who have been able to benefit from the pop-up clinic with people living in the surrounding towns and regions also eligible to receive the jab.

Penny Chisholm from Tenterfield said she and her work colleagues drove over the border just to get the vaccine.

“Unlike in Queensland, in New South Wales under 40s aren’t offered the vaccine,” she said.

Mrs Chisholm said the registration process was smooth and straightforward.

“I think in particular for the older people that don’t generally travel it’s a bonus for them,” she said.

With two more days left of the Stanthorpe clinic all residents aged 16-59 are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine and can register online here.

The Stanthorpe clinic at the Stanthorpe Showgrounds is open from 8.30am to 3.50pm Thursday and 8.30am to 1pm Friday.

If you plan to attend the clinic you must bring ID, your Medicare card and a pen.

The clinic will return to Stanthorpe on September 7, 8, 9 and 10 to administer locals with dose two of the Pfizer vaccine.