Mass Covid vax hubs set to close

Some of Victoria’s mass Covid vaccination hubs will close on these dates in a move that will increase pressure on community jab programs.

Some of Victoria’s mass Covid vaccination centres are set to close after the state passed the key 90 per cent double dose milestone.

The move is hoped to free up healthcare workers to return to the state’s struggling hospitals and medical clinics, but will significantly increase pressure on the Commonwealth-run program to deliver more booster shots through GPs and pharmacies.

Afaf Kadar receives her second Covid vaccination at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Picture: David Geraghty

Mass vaccination clinics at Eastland and the Eagle Stadium clinic in Wyndham will close at the end of this week, while the Showgrounds, Austin ONJ and the St Vincent’s Private in Werribee will close their doors next week.

Iconic vaccination centres at the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centres, as well as the Box Hill Town Hall hub, will close by mid-December.

The state-run hubs, some of which will remain open, have been the backbone and visual representation of Victoria’s vaccination efforts, delivering more than 4.8 million Covid jabs since February 22.

People queue at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for their AstraZeneca Covid vaccination. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A Victorian government spokeswoman said Victorians have done an incredible job by protecting themselves with some of the highest vaccination rates in the world, allowing the gradual closure of some of the state’s largest vaccination sites.

“Victorian state vaccination sites have delivered half of the vaccines administered in Victoria during the rollout and more than any other state or territory run vaccination system in the country.

“The Covid vaccine is safe, it’s effective and we encourage anyone who is not yet vaccinated to book an appointment and get the jab at their local GP, pharmacist, state vaccination centres or pop-up clinics.

“We encourage the Commonwealth to provide greater support to pharmacies to ensure they can sustain the booster program – easing the pressure on state sites so this workforce can get back into other areas of the health system under pressure.”