Western District Health Service is kicking off the first phase of the Southern Grampians COVID-19 vaccination roll-out next week.

Two hundred frontline healthcare workers, residents and staff at WDHS aged care facilities will be the first to receive the Pfizer vaccine next Wednesday.

A team from the Barwon South West Public Health Unit will be on site to support the delivery of the Pfizer vaccine, which will be administered by WDHS nursing and medical staff.

This will be followed by a targeted roll-out on Thursday and Friday of the AstraZeneca vaccine to several hundred local emergency workers healthcare staff, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people over the age of 55 and WDHS clients and volunteers over the age of 70.

WDHS Chief Executive, Rohan Fitzgerald says his team are excited to be receiving the region’s first doses next week.

“This is something we have been planning for many weeks, and our team is keen to begin the vaccination phase.

We are eager to be getting on with the job of delivering the vaccine to protect those most at risk in our community.

Mr Fitzgerald says with both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines arriving in the same week, there are some logistical challenges, particularly as vaccinations are by appointment only.

“We will be contacting people directly to book in for their appointment, there is no need to call WDHS. Coordinating the bookings for several hundred vaccinations, will be a big task, and I ask that people do ensure they let us know if they can’t make their appointment, as early as possible. This will mean that we can reallocate their appointment to someone else.

We’ve already had a great response from our aged care residents and their families in returning consent forms and our frontline staff are also keen to roll up their sleeves to fight COVID-19.

We are looking forward to getting this vital program underway,” he said.

The community roll-out of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be coordinated through local general practices, supported by Western District Health Service and later by pharmacies as more vaccine becomes available.

We know that many people in the community will be eager to get the vaccine as soon as possible. I want to reassure people the first phase of WDHS’s vaccination program is targeted to those that are most at risk. In the coming months ample vaccine supplies will be available for all.

***Western District Health Service***