Mildura COVID vaccine rollout: Bendigo Health plan Pfizer distribution

The nearest Pfizer hub to Mildura will be 400km away, but authorities have expressed confidence the region won’t miss out. Here’s what’s planned.

Despite logistic challenges Bendigo Health has vowed to deliver Pfizer vaccines to Mildura — 400km away.

Mildura was not among the nine hubs distribution hubs for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine announced by the Victorian Government on Wednesday, February 3.

Instead, Bendigo’s hospital was given responsibility for the entire Loddon-Mallee region.

Bendigo Health infectious diseases physician Andrew Mahony said both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines would be delivered across the region.

Dr Mahony said despite the challenges posed by distributing the Pfizer vaccine, including the need for it to be stored at -70 degrees, it was possible to deliver doses to Mildura.

“There’s been a little bit of good news that’s come out from Pfizer’s studies,” Dr Mahony said.

“We had thought we only had two hours to administer the vaccine from the time it was put in the syringe.

“But some of the stability data is now showing it actually goes up to six hours, which means we’ll be able to get the vaccine up to Mildura.”

He said details were still being organised.

Bendigo Health and Mildura Base Public Hospital had initially on Wednesday directed media inquiries to the Department of Health.

A spokesperson for the department had been unable to detail how someone from Mildura in the phase 1a group, which includes frontline health workers, would be vaccinated.

Phase 1a vaccinations may start as soon as this month.

Federal Member for Mallee Anne Webster said she was “disappointed” none of Mildura, Swan Hill or Horsham were selected as a hub.

Dr Webster said Mallee aged care homes, a federal responsibility, would be visited by specialist teams.

State Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said she was not concerned about Mildura not being a hub.

She said the areas that had been prioritised had all had spikes in cases during the pandemic.

Mildura on Wednesday marked 300 consecutive days with no new confirmed cases in its local government area.

“It’s not concerning to me at this point, because it’s a sign our of low risk and our success at keeping the numbers so low,” Ms Cupper said.

“My electorate has had less than 10 cases the entire pandemic and no deaths, so I think that the frame for this is that it’s the result of our good work.”

The second phase of coronavirus vaccinations — covering those aged over 70 and with underlying conditions and disabilities — is expected to begin in late March.

GPs will start distributing the vaccine in this phase of the rollout, which covers 6.1 million people, starting when domestic supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine are available.

Australian Academy of Science president Professor John Shine issued a statement last month telling Australians all approved vaccines would protect from the worst of COVID-19.

Prof Shine said while the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines had different effectiveness rates at preventing mild to moderate symptoms, both were equally effective at preventing severe COVID-19 that requires hospitalisation.

“Either vaccine is amply effective to prevent severe disease — the outcome we all fear most and the primary goal of Australia’s vaccination strategy,” Prof Shine said.