‘No wait time’: Child-friendly Pfizer pop-clinic opens in Cairns

Bubbles, lollipops and facepainting for 5-11 year olds at new pop-up clinic offering Pfizer vaccines. WHERE TO GET JAB FOR KIDS

NESTLED in Pier shopping centre, is a new pop-up clinic offering Pfizer only vaccines for children aged 5-11 years for this weekend only.

Kelly Pollock, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service’s Covid-19 vaccination program director, is hoping to see large number of children coming in, to receive their vaccinations before they head to school early February.

“We’re really urging the community to come forth,” she said.

“We have an absolutely spectacular set up here.”

Each booth has a decorated wall full of fun art. The centre also has lollipops, ice blocks, face painting and bubbles.

“We’re really making it a fun, welcoming environment,” Ms Pollock said.

The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health service has opened a new Covid-19 vaccination centre at The Pier Shopping centre, which specialises in jabs for children aged 5 to 11. Picture: Brendan Radke

With an empty line, Ms Pollock said, “the wait time at the moment is zero minutes, we’re accepting walk-ins and bookings.”

Ms Pollock said she’s seen steady numbers of families bringing their children in for their vaccines and that there’s a demand.

The Ellison family who have come up from Berwick, Victoria to holiday in Cairns, walked past the clinic and popped in for Ollie, 5, and Alex, 10, to receive their first doses.

Olly Ellison, 5, and his brother Alex Ellison, 10, were vaccinated against Covid-19 at the new clinic while holidaying with their family from Melbourne. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We’re struggling to get appointments for them in Victoria, everywhere it is booked out until the middle of February or later,” Mr Ellison said.

“There’s no wait time here, we just walked straight in.”

While the centre is for children, Ms Pollock said they’re happy to accommodate adult walk-ins for booster shots as well.

This follows Premier Palaszczuk’s decision that from January 24, boosters are available three months after the second dose.

While the pop-up is for this weekend only, Mrs Pollock said they are hoping to open permanently for seven days a week starting February, following the closure of the vaccination hub at Cairns Convention Centre.

CHHHS vaccine manager Shelley Pember at the new child-friendly clinic. Picture: Brendan Radke

Shelley Pember, clinical pharmacist and vaccine manager, said children have a unique vaccine, and that they’re taking extreme measures to avoid mix-ups.

She said, “the rate of side effects is very very low, the children seem to weather is extremely well and bounce back the next day.”

Originally published as ‘No wait time’: Child-friendly Pfizer pop-clinic opens in Cairns