COVID-19 vaccine ready for remote Australia

Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton says remote Australia will be targeted early in the COVID vaccination rollout. Photo contributed

Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton has announced that the Australian Government is committed to providing safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines free to all Australians – no matter where they live.

“We are ready to roll out COVID-19 vaccines with hundreds of distribution points nationwide,” Minister Coulton said.

“Further sites will be finalised in coming weeks and will include rural and remote based GP-led respiratory clinics, GPs, pharmacies, state and territory vaccination clinics and Aboriginal health clinics.

“The government’s call out to GPs and community pharmacies will strengthen the rollout and will allow people living in rural and remote communities to access COVID-19 vaccinations side by side with the rest of the nation.”

Minister Coulton said thousands of aged care residents, including many in rural Australia, will receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose this week.

Residents and staff in 134 regional and rural aged care facilities – almost 44 per cent of the initial vaccination locations - will be among those who get their first COVID-19 vaccine immediately.

“Protecting the most vulnerable citizens in our regions is an absolute priority.

“We are fortunate to have the AstraZeneca vaccine that is well suited to be deployed right across the vast expanse of the country.

“We have also been working hard to ensure the unique storage requirements of the Pfizer vaccine are not a barrier for our regional areas.”

Both vaccines demonstrate they will stop people becoming very sick – keeping them off ventilators and out of hospital.

“We will partner with other providers to administer the vaccine for harder-to-reach populations, such as rural and remote Aboriginal communities.

“We will work closely with state and territory governments and key stakeholders to ensure communities in rural and remote Australia are informed about the rollout, Mr Coulton said.”