End of ACT Equity to Access Covid vaccination program

Media Release

The ACT Council of Social service (ACTCOSS) has commended the ACT Government for its work and partnership with the community sector to deliver the ACT Equity to Access COVID-19 vaccination program.

The ACT Equity to Access program, which ends on 30 June, helped people get vaccinated who faced high COVID-19 health risks and/or significant barriers accessing mainstream health services.

ACTCOSS Chief Executive Officer, Dr Emma Campbell said: “As the COVID-19 vaccination program was rolled out, ACTCOSS and its members worked closely with the ACT Government to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community could be vaccinated.

“This included people who had difficulty leaving home, accessing transport, making bookings or felt uncomfortable in mainstream health services.

“In response, ACT Health and the ACT community sector worked together to provide creative solutions including pop-up clinics, mobile clinics, and in-reach vaccination.

“The successful delivery of this program, alongside the ACT Government’s Access and Sensory Clinic, ensured that the most vulnerable Canberrans were able to access protection from COVID-19 and the whole community was protected by high rates of vaccination.

“The ACT Equity to Access Program was a great demonstration of the results can be achieved for our whole community when the ACT Government and ACT community sector work in partnership.

“We acknowledge the work of ACT Health and community sector partners in delivering this program,” Dr Campbell said.

The ACT Government’s Access and Sensory Clinic and other specialised vaccination services for people unable to leave their homes will continue. ACTCOSS and its partners will continue to work with ACT Health and Canberra Health Network to ensure the most vulnerable Canberrans are protected from COVID-19 and flu during the Winter season.

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