South Australia’s homeless to get Covid-19 vaccine at CBD and mobile clinics

A decommissioned ambulance and a CBD clinic will be used to help administer Covid-19 vaccines to a new group.

SA homeless to begin getting Covid-19 vaccinations. NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Homeless South Australians will be able to get their free Covid-19 vaccines as part of a new trial launched on Friday.

Pfizer jabs will be administered for people aged over 16 years accessing homelessness services at Baptist Care SA in Adelaide’s CBD as well as via a decommissioned ambulance used as a mobile clinic.

The SA government is working with the state’s five homeless alliances to reach out to the homeless community and allow for vaccines to be delivered in a familiar environment among people they trust.

The outreach program will be progressively rolled out, based on insight from Baptist Care SA.

As part of the program, homeless people will be able to receive Pfizer vaccinations. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Wayne Taylor

The jabs were prepared and transported from the mass vaccination hub at Wayville. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Rachel Kay from the Central Adelaide Local Health Network explained that pharmacy staff from the mass clinic at Wayville prepared the jabs that were transported by the decommissioned ambulance to Baptist Care SA’s WestCare Centre.

She said 40-60 vaccinations were anticipated to be administered on Friday

“We’re trying to be as adaptable as we can with this program,” Ms Kay said.

“Today is a trial but it doesn’t mean it will stop … We will take the lessons that we have learned out of today and continue to modify and adopt that.”

Health Minister Stephen Wade believed the outreach program being delivered in a familiar environment would increase the likelihood of people returning for their second dose.

He said there were different models that were “likely” to be trialled at different sites.

Up to 60 homeless people are expected to receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in the one-day trial. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Baptist Care SA executive leader Kate McGarry said many people who experienced homelessness did not always access formal health services or make it to a clinic.

But, she said there was a demand for Covid-19 vaccines.

“Bringing and mobilising the vaccinations to our community is a very important step,” Ms McGarry said.

“The community is interested and wanting to protect themselves and others.”

Baptist Care SA provides out of home care, disability care, youth education, employment and training, mental health and wellbeing services, homelessness services, Aboriginal services and therapeutic support.