The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine is continuing strongly with South Australia’s third freezer to store the Pfizer vaccine arriving at the Lyell McEwin Hospital today.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the new freezer at the Lyell McEwin Hospital is an additional $15,000 investment into the health and wellbeing of South Australians, and will be a vital hub for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine.
“This new freezer can store up to 280,000 vaccine doses, strengthening our ability to continue vaccinating our frontline health and quarantine workers as soon as we receive more vaccines from the Commonwealth Government,” Minister Wade said.
“In line with the Commonwealth Government’s Phase 1a, SA Health clinics have already provided almost 2,000 doses in the first week of the vaccine rollout to medi-hotel and airport staff including frontline healthcare workers in testing clinics and Emergency Departments.
“Our program will continue to expand as more vaccination hubs, such as this one at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, come online we are pleased with the rollout of the vaccine so far.”
This specialised Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer is designed to operate efficiently at -70 degrees Celsius, which is what is required to safely store the Pfizer vaccine doses.
The other vaccine hubs throughout South Australia will be located at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Riverland General Hospital in Berri, Mount Gambier Hospital, Whyalla Hospital, Port Pirie Hospital and Port Augusta Hospital.
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) Director of Nursing (Operations), Andrew McGill, said staff across the network were excited to begin the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program at the Lyell McEwin Hospital.
“Staff across NALHN have been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, putting their hands up in droves to help their colleague’s interstate and jumping at the opportunity to work at testing clinics in our community,” Mr McGill said.
“We’ve had a huge amount of interest already from staff wanting to be involved in the vaccine rollout and we are determined to play our part in delivering these vaccines in a safe and efficient way.”
All COVID-19 vaccination workforce including administrative staff are required to undertake training and induction programs to support the rapid upskilling and surge capacity requirements of the rollout.
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout across South Australia will be undertaken in line with the Commonwealth Government’s Vaccine Roadmap. Find out more about COVID-19 vaccinations at www.covid-19.sa.gov.au.
