The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) reached the significant milestone this week of administering 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines to country communities.
Since commencing the vaccination program on March 2, 2021, WACHS has expanded capacity for the delivery of vaccines as far south as Albany to Wyndham in the north – spanning some 2.5 million square kilometres.
Now operating clinics across almost 100 locations, the organisation also continues to partner with Aboriginal Medical Services and the Royal Flying Doctor Service to ensure even the most remote communities are protected against COVID-19.
WACHS Aboriginal Health Promotion teams are also achieving high vaccination rates in some remote communities by working with community leaders and Aboriginal elders to talk with residents about the importance of being vaccinated, and to bust myths about the vaccine.
This includes the remote community of Warmun – 160 kilometres from Halls Creek – where more than 86 per cent of eligible residents have been vaccinated. Sixty-five per cent of eligible community members in Kalumburu, north of Wyndham, have received their first vaccine.
To date, more than 160,000 country residents have been vaccinated by all providers, with WACHS set to increase capacity even further and establish pop-up vaccine clinics to offer vaccines to local communities as supply increases.
The McGowan Government is also working with resource companies to begin vaccinating communities in regional towns.
With vaccinations now open to everybody aged 16 and over, Western Australians are urged to go to https://rollup.wa.gov.au to register and book an appointment.
As demand for vaccines is high, patience is appreciated while our country clinicians work hard to administer as many as possible.
A full list of regional COVID-19 vaccination clinics is available on the HealthyWA website.
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
“I applaud country communities and the WA Country Health Service for reaching such a significant milestone.
“While we still have a long way to go, we know WACHS is ramping up capacity as supply increases.
“Vaccines are available at almost 100 vaccination clinics across regional WA, in addition to those available from local GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services and pharmacies.
“I particularly want to acknowledge the incredibly proactive effort in ensuring some of our most vulnerable remote Aboriginal communities are appropriately informed and given the opportunity to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The achievements in places like Warmun and Kalumburu highlight the wonderful efforts of Aboriginal Health Promotion teams across the State to vaccinate our most vulnerable.
“Bookings are open for everybody 16 years and over, so I encourage all eligible people living in country WA to book your appointment online on the Roll Up for WA website or by calling 13 COVID (13 26843).”
