Merrylands: Free flu shot for homeless community
Almost 100 homeless people and vulnerable residents have flocked to get a free flu shot at a pop-up clinic in western Sydney to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
Parramatta
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The looming flu season amid the coronavirus pandemic has propelled almost 100 homeless and vulnerable people to get a free flu shot at Merrylands.
NSW Health organised the Thursday clinic at the Holroyd Centre, where 90 people got their flu jab and where more are expected on Tuesday.
Cumberland Council joined forces with NSW Health to run the outreach clinics, which are open to residents who are homeless including those who sleep rough or are at risk of losing their homes.
The health service’s High Street Youth Health Service clinical nurse specialist Nina Livingstone said 250 people had received the flu shot as part of the program this season.
“Understandably, some people are a little uneasy around needles so we try to make the experience as painless as possible,’’ she said.
“The teams are also increasing health literacy in the community by dispelling myths around the flu vaccine and highlighting the importance of practising good hygiene.
“The flu vaccine is safe and cannot give you the flu.’’
Antony and Akhila Bose and their daughters Sharon, 9, Roshna, 8 and Benita, 6, were all vaccinated on Thursday.
Mr Bose said he felt confident now his family had received the needles.
“If you take a flu vaccine you can resist corona(virus),’’ he said.
The Granville family migrated from India in December and have a bridging visa but have not been able to find work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They struggle to pay the $310 in rent for the unit and are classed as vulnerable residents.
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“The rent is the problem for us because nobody expected the coronavirus,’’ Mr Bose, who is a trained bartender, said.
The Cumberland Council area has been identified as one of the state’s worst for high COVID-19 community transmission rates, prompting calls from NSW Health for the public to be tested even for mild symptoms.
Cumberland also suffers a high rate of homeless people, with 3244 in 2016 and 4327 who were marginally housed.
Homelessness soared by 122 per cent from 2011 to 2016 compared with 37 per cent for NSW, making it one of the worst communities for the social problem in the state.
The local government area, which is home to 240,000 residents, is also home to a high number of asylum seekers.
Cumberland Mayor Steve Christou said there were several members of the community who needed the healthcare support.
“People experiencing homelessness, including those who are rough sleeping or couch
surfing, those in temporary accommodation or overcrowded housing as well as those on
temporary visas are just some of the vulnerable populations here in Cumberland facing
a range of barriers to accessing basic healthcare services,’’ he said.
Agencies such as Wesley Mission refer alert clients to the clinics, where they are screened upon arrival.
Meals Plus Parramatta will host an outreach clinic on May 13 from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Community services interested in hosting an outreach clinic are also encouraged to contact Nina.Livingstone@health.nsw.gov.au.
BREAKFAST SNUB
A free breakfast planned for health care workers at Auburn Hospital has been refused.
Cumberland Council wrote to Health Minister Brad Hazzard to express its disappointment about the Western Sydney Health District declining the gesture it had organised for the frontline staff on Tuesday.
The council had enlisted the help of Pull’n Shots mobile catering business to dispense complimentary coffee and pastries outside the hospital for International Nurses Day.
“The only explanation we have been given by the health district’s executive team is that Auburn Hospital is overrun with COVID-19 cases,’’ Mayor Steve Christou said.
“I note that many similar breakfasts have been held around the world, in countries and cities, severely affected by the pandemic. Staff working in these hospitals, have still managed to eat breakfast.”
He said the council was happy to reschedule the event if the health district reconsidered the offer.