The Northern Territory’s COVID vaccine rollout program needs to be much better
The health of Territorians depends on the vaccine rollout happening as fast as possible. That’s why its current slow pace is so concerning.
Opinion
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- NT has only used about half of COVID vaccine stock, figures show
- NT is not stockpiling COVID-19 vaccines: Fyles
THE health of Territorians depends on the vaccine rollout happening as fast as possible.
That’s why its current slow pace is so concerning.
Figures obtained by the NT News show the Northern Territory has only used about 53 per cent of its stock of vaccines.
The NT is one of several Australian states and territories which has struggled to get barely half of the COVID-19 vaccines they have been given by the federal government into the arms of the most vulnerable and at-risk people.
However, Health Minister Natasha Fyles insists she’s happy with the NT’s vaccine rollout pace.
We know our circumstances in the Territory are a little different than those southern states that are trying to vaccinate a huge population.
The Northern Territory’s challenge is our large geographical area.
But it’s still frustrating to see the vaccine rollout here moving so slowly.
We’ve started to see vaccines delivered in every regional centre including Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and Alice Springs.
Health Minister Fyles also flagged yesterday that the vaccine will also begin rolling out to remote communities around mid-April.
The Territory is home to some of the most vulnerable populations in the country.
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