Walk-in Covid-19 vaccination clinic to open in Coffs Harbour this weekend
For the first time, a walk-in vaccination clinic will open on the Coffs Coast.
Coffs Harbour
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In an effort to boost vaccination rates on the Coffs Coast a walk-in vaccination clinic is being established.
The clinic will open this weekend to anyone over the age of 18 and will be located at the former Red and White Medical Centre on the corner of the Pacific Highway and Argyll St. No appointment is necessary
The site was formerly being used by the Mid North Coast Local Health District as a Covid-19 test clinic but since the Covid scare in July, resources have been allocated to the drive-through clinic at C.ex Stadium.
“Our (vaccination) numbers are about average, they are not great but not bad either,” Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh said.
“Given that Coffs Harbour is a large regional centre, our number probably should be higher than where they are.”
Fifty-seven per cent of residents have received a first dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine in the Coffs Harbour local government area. Twenty-nine per cent are fully vaccinated.
In nearby Bellingen the rate is higher at 64 per cent first dose and 36 per cent fully vaccinated.
Mr Singh said the clinic was also established in response to feedback he had received from residents indicating they didn’t want to, or were unable to navigate the online booking system.
When asked whether an initiative like a walk-in vaccination centre could have happened earlier Mr Singh said it was an example of the vaccine rollout being “very complicated”.
The rollout is being co-ordinated by the Federal Government and Healthy North Coast is the body responsible for the region from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads.
“The majority of the jabs that are being done in this area are being done by private clinics,” Mr Singh said.
The announcement follows a similar walk-in clinic in Kempsey. The weekend clinic proved so popular that it was reopened on weekdays.
AstraZeneca vaccines will be the only vaccines on offer and residents must bring their Medicare Card and photo identification.
The walk-in clinic will be open Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm.
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