New mass vaccination hub will offer 200 doses a day to Greater Darwin as Territory reaches vaccination milestone

A new Covid-19 mass vaccination hub in Darwin will open its doors on Wednesday, with capacity to provide hundreds of shots in arms per day.

A NEW Covid-19 mass vaccination hub in Darwin will open its doors on Wednesday, with capacity to provide hundreds of shots in arms per day.

More than 100,000 Territorians have now received at least one dose of the jab, and about 16 per cent of the population is now fully vaccinated.

It’s anticipated the new hub, located at the Italian Club in Marrara, will initially administer vaccinations to 200 people each day.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said on Monday she was pleased to see so many Territorians doing their bit to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“I would like to thank Territorians for rolling up their sleeves to be vaccinated,” she said.

The launch of the new facility will coincide with the Royal Darwin Hospital vaccination hub being closed to the public, though staff will be still be able to get vaccinated there.

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Ms Fyles said the vaccine rollout across remote NT was going well, with about one quarter of remote Territorians having now received their first Covid-19 jab.

“We’re … seeing our remote program rolling out strongly,” she said.

“We’re responding to the community – those community members in remote parts of the Territory who wish to be vaccinated.”

No new cases were recorded in the NT in the 24 hours until Monday morning, but Ms Fyles said there are still “a couple” of outstanding test results from close and casual contacts of positive cases from the Territory outbreak.

Those contacts awaiting their test results are in isolation.

New Northern Territory vaccine lead Bhavini Patel said the mass vaccination hub would be open extended hours and on the weekend to give people greater access to the services.

Professor Patel said the limited initial offering of vaccines was due to a shortage of doses being sent to the Territory from the Commonwealth.

NT vaccination lead Bhavini Patel at the announcment of a new mass vaccination hub at the Italian Club in Marrara. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“As doses become more available over time we’ll be able to flex up to greater numbers into September and October,” she said.

Professor Patel said the centre was booked out for all of July, but more appointments would be opened once they secured more doses.

GP clinics will also begin offering the jab this month to the general population, and Aboriginal medical organisations will be able to administer the vaccine to Indigenous Territorians.

Ms Fyles said she could understand some people’s frustration in having to wait a long time to book in a spot for the jab in Greater Darwin.

“They’re keen to get vaccinated, we’ve just had our first lockdown – they want to make it work,” she said.

“We’re working closely with the Commonwealth.”