Dandenong and Casey Covid Vaccine: Market and Narre Warren P-12 clinics a hit
Dandenong and Casey have been hit been plagued by some of the lowest vaccination rates in Victoria. But could dedicated vaccine sites be working?
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
More than 6000 doses were administered at pop-up vaccine clinics in Dandenong and Narre Warren over the weekend as inoculation rates soar in Melbourne’s south east.
Monash Health data has revealed 2672 vaccine doses were administered at the Dandenong Market pop-up clinic from Friday to Sunday, and 3757 were administered at Narre Warren South P-12 over the same period.
Both sites were established by Monash Health as a consequence of the state government’s vaccination push in the south east, where jab rates have remained significantly lower that the majority of Victoria.
The latest evidence would suggest that the targeting of municipalities such as Greater Dandenong and Casey is beginning to work.
On September 6, 50 per cent of eligible residents had received their first dose in Dandenong, which had risen to 65 per cent.
On September 6, Casey had 54 per cent of eligible residents had received one dose of a vaccine, rising to 70 per cent as of September 20.
In Dandenong 33 per cent of residents are fully vaccinated and in Casey 38 per cent of eligible residents have received two doses.
The increasing vaccination rates have occurred when cases have soared significantly.
This week active cases in Dandenong increased by 260 per cent and in Casey by 67 per cent, while the main hospitals in each area — Dandenong Hospital and Casey Hospital — both had their emergency departments listed as tier one exposure sites.
Attention in Melbourne’s east has shifted to the semirural Shire of Cardinia, and in particular the suburb of Pakenham where a Coles in the suburb’s main street was added as a tier two exposure site last night, with a positive case said to have visited there over four consecutive days.
Yesterday Cardinia recorded nine new cases, with seven of those in Pakenham.