Darling Downs Health, PHN head west to vaccinate community ahead of Nov 19 deadline

Toowoomba and the Darling Downs is running out of time to get vaccinated before the first border restrictions are eased next month — here’s how you can get jabbed.

Darling Downs Health and Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN will hit the road over the coming weeks to boost vaccination levels.

Health services have ramped up their vaccination rollouts for the most remote communities of the Darling Downs as the region risks being unprepared for Covid-19 when border restrictions are relaxed.

Both the state health body Darling Downs Health and the federally-funded Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN will hit the road from this weekend to reach rural and indigenous communities in towns like Inglewood, Miles, Cecil Plains, Tara and Cherbourg, among others.

While most local government areas in the Darling Downs are on track to meet the 70 per cent fully-vaccinated target by November 19, which is when border restrictions are set to reduce, reports have emerged of many communities falling behind with jabs.

DDH acting chief executive Annette Scott said eligible people had until this weekend to get their first jab to ensure they were covered by next month.

“From the date of your first dose of Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine, which Darling Downs Health is providing, there’s a three week wait until you have your second dose, and then it’s two weeks until you get the full benefit of the vaccine,” she said.

“That’s five weeks in total so if you want to be fully protected before Christmas, you need to have your first dose as soon as you can.

“When more people start moving across the border there’s a very real possibility that Covid-19 will arrive and spread across southeast Queensland.

“The best way to avoid this is if we step-up and get vaccinated because it’s our best protection from Covid-19.”

Along with its seven-day clinic at Clifford Gardens, DDH will host walk-in jab centres at Miles Hospital from October 27-29, Club Pittsworth and at the Warwick Rodeo Markets on October 30, the Dalby Events Centre from November 1-4 and home visits in Cherbourg on October 28 and from November 1-5.

Google “getting vaccinated qld” for state-run clinics.

The PHN’s “Bush Vaxbus” will head to 19 towns across southwest Queensland from November 1-13.

“We are excited to get out on the road to support people in rural communities, who may have found it difficult to access the vaccine,” PHN CEO Merrilyn Strohfeldt said.

For a full list of the destinations, head to www.ddwmphn.com.au/vaxbus.