At-risk Indigenous Covid-19 jab rates up 50pc

The number of Aboriginal people in western NSW who have been vaccinated has increased by ­almost 50 per cent over the past 20 days.

A man receives a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in Dubbo last month. Picture: Getty Images

The number of Aboriginal people in western NSW who have been vaccinated has increased by ­almost 50 per cent over the past 20 days as targeted efforts to fight Covid-19 begin to pay off, but authorities are alarmed by soaring infection rates.

More than 12 per cent of ­Aboriginal people aged over 12 in western NSW have been fully vaccinated, according to the ­National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. This compares with 8.3 per cent when Covid-19 first reached the region on August 11.

NACCHO medical adviser Jason Agostino said while it was concerning Indigenous people had been infected, the increased vaccination rates were promising. “We’re seeing everyone do what they can to get this population vaccinated,” he said. “It’s our community-controlled health services, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the state government and the Australian Defence Force working together.

“The vaccination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is a priority for everyone in western NSW, and we’re seeing when everyone prioritises and works together, you get results.”

The rate at which Aboriginal people in western NSW are being vaccinated is increasing faster than the national average, Dr Agostino said.

More than 43 per cent of ­Aboriginal Australians aged over 12 in western NSW have received their first vaccination, compared with 34 per cent of the national average, but the 12 per cent with both doses is lower than the ­national average of 19 per cent.

“There’s this big gap (between the number of first and second doses) because most people have only received their first dose in the past three weeks during the latest push,” Dr Agostino said.

While the vaccination uptake is increasing in the community, regional NSW recorded ­“another shocking day” of case numbers on Tuesday: 54 new cases were recorded – 32 in Dubbo, five in Wellington, five in Bathurst and eight in Bourke.

Narromine, Brewarrina and Parkes each recorded one case, and there was one in the mid-western LGA.

In the far west, four cases were recorded in Wilcannia.

Overall, NSW recorded 1164 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases, with 67 per cent of the state’s population having received their first jab.

There were three more deaths across the state, including a female in her 50s who had underlying health conditions, a male in his 80s and a male in his 90s.

Ninety-six deaths have now been recorded since the beginning of the outbreak on June 16.

The vast majority of new infections continue to be recorded in the 12 LGAs of concern in southwest and western Sydney, including Guildford, Merrylands, Auburn, Punchbowl and surrounding suburbs.

Of great concern to health officials was an outbreak in Parklea prison, which has reached 75 active cases, with 43 cases recorded overnight and a case linked to the Bathurst Correctional Centre.