Mackay Hospital and Health Service will deliver the first COVID-19 vaccinations today (15 March) to frontline healthcare workers.
COVAX lead and Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Julie Rampton said today was a momentous occasion for the community.
Thousands of workers will receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the coming weeks.
“The first vaccine is a great step forward to protecting the wider Mackay HHS community,” Ms Rampton said.
“Today is an important first step in our vaccine rollout which will happen progressively across the region’s population beginning with our frontline workers.
“We have spent more than 12 months preparing for a pandemic and working to protect our community. To now have a COVID-19 vaccination as the ultimate weapon to help defeat this virus is incredible,” she said.
Among the first healthcare workers to be vaccinated are those working on the frontline in our emergency departments, at drive through and pop up testing clinics and on hospital wards.
Ms Rampton said the vaccine offered an essential safeguard for these people.
The broader community will be vaccinated in line with the national rollout and will be notified when it is time for them to book their vaccine.
“It continues to be important to follow basic infection prevention measures such as social distancing and staying home if you are sick and getting tested if you have the symptoms of COVID-19.”
Mackay HHS is also co-ordinating the vaccination of other priority group members including emergency service workers.
Additional nurses have been recruited to rollout the vaccination program with flying squads of vaccinators to visit rural hospitals.
