Mildura, Shepparton, Bass Coast: Children line up to get vaccinated
Kids living in some parts of regional Victoria may struggle to get vaccinated ahead of the new school year. See where the shortages are impacting most.
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Children aged 5-11 living in regional Victoria may struggle to get vaccinated ahead of the new school year amid staff shortages and supply issues.
The rollout begun on Monday but some clinics have been forced to shut early because they are unable to keep up with the demand.
Rural Doctors Association CEO, Peta Rutherford, says doctors are doing their best but are exhausted.
“Rural doctors are stressed and tired,” she said.
“They are trying to do their normal GP duties and help with Covid testing, vaccinations and care.”
In Mildura, on the Victorian-NSW border in the state’s northwest, Deakin Medical Centre is not offering appointments to new patients, only exciting ones.
“We have only got the staff to do our own patients,” a spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile, Lime Medical Clinic, also in Mildura, is not taking any bookings for children until Monday January 17, a week after the start of the vaccine rollout.
But Silverline Health Care is still offering the vaccine.
“We have a current supply and expecting further to arrive later this week,” Silverline Health Care practice manager Tania McKinnon said.
“Parents have been keen to ensure their children receive adequate coverage against Covid,” she said.
In good news, supplies are not limited across all parts of regional Victoria.
In central Victoria, Ballarat Health Services primary and community care executive director Craig Wilding said 250 children were vaccinated at the Main Road clinic on Monday.
He said vaccine supplies were “very solid” and staffing, barring any unforeseen circumstances, was sufficient.
“Pressure’s on staff across the board,” Mr Wilding said.
“We do have good staffing for the vaccination at the clinic, but as can happen anywhere, we can have a rapid antigen test on the morning and that does change things.”
The Grampians Public Health Unit estimated 20,000 children were eligible across Grampians.
It is aiming to vaccinate 1500 five to 11-year-olds each week at its three public clinics in Ballarat, Ararat, and Horsham.
Walk-ins on Main Road have been temporarily postponed and appointments are available for adult booster shots.
Stuart Mimmo from Clunes brought his seven-year-old Audrey to be vaccinated on Tuesday.
“It was a big priority for the rest of us and myself and my partner and our two older kids,” he said.
“We just wanted her to be safe, to be able to live her life as normal as possible, get back to school a bit more.
“We spoke to her a lot about it, and she’s been all up for it, so we got it as quick as we could.”
In the Goulburn Valley, in the state’s north, Goulburn Valley Health has transformed part of its McIntosh Vaccination Hub into a forest of protection with children now able to be jabbed.
But youngsters aged between 5 and 11 will only be able to receive their first dose on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings during the school holidays.
GV Health also has the option of a low sensory room available to children
It comes after the Victorian Government announced pop-up vaccination clinics will be rolled out in schools to help speed up the process before students return to the classroom.
Yuille Park P-8 Community College (Ballarat), Bairnsdale Primary School (East Gippsland), Kennington Primary School (Greater Bendigo), Roslyn Primary School (Greater Geelong), Mildura Primary School and Wodonga South Primary School were all nominated to take part in the program.
Shepparton will also have a local representative but the school is yet to be determined.
In Bass Coast vaccination clinics are accepting walk-ups for people wanting Covid vaccines, but are advising people to get in early as lines have been shut early due to “high demand”.
Jan Child from Bass Coast Health said on Monday they were working with limited staff due to exposures in the area.
“Today we lost several vaccinators due to social exposures, so people today will have to be especially patient and flexible.”
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