Seven pop-up clinics to drive vaccine push
SEVEN pop-up vaccination clinics will provide Townsville with a welcome shot in the arm as it desperately races to get enough people vaccinated before Covid-19 enters the community.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will touch down in Townsville on Wednesday to reveal the pop-up clinic plan after launching a weeklong vax-a-thon campaign encouraging regional Queenslanders to get 80 per cent vaccinated before the border reopens on December 17.
The city’s vaccination rate sits just below 70 per cent first dose and 57.7 per cent fully vaccinated.
Hoping to improve the sluggish vaccination rate by taking jabs to the community, the Premier said the clinics would appear at Pimlico TAFE campus, Bohle TAFE campus,
Sheriff Park, Islamic Society, Riverway, The Strand night markets, and the Townsville Disaster Ready Day.
Ms Palazuczuk warned the state had entered a critical phase where unvaccinated people were running out of time.
“This week we released our road map to reopening and we don’t want North Queenslanders to get left behind,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“We can’t keep Delta out forever and with the borders reopening in December, we need everyone to get vaccinated now to make sure they are fully protected when they do open. We cannot protect you if you won’t protect yourself.”
The Premier dispersed her Ministerial team throughout regional Queensland on Tuesday to reinforce the urgent vaccination message.
Minister for Regional Development Glenn Butcher visited Townsville and spoke with Charters Towers Mayor Frank Beveridge about strategies to urgently lift the town’s abysmal 40 per cent fully vaccinated rate towards 80 per cent.
“If you’re not vaccinated by Melbourne Cup Day, you are going to be at risk of getting the virus in this community on the 17th of December,” Mr Butcher said.
“Set yourself a challenge. Get out to your local vaccine hub, get into your local GP, get into your local chemist, and either get your first vaccination or double down with your second vaccination to keep not only you, but your community and your family safe.”
Mr Butcher backed away from the prospect of localised lockdowns – an option flagged by the Premier on Monday – remaining focused on getting enough people vaccinated.
He was confident the hospital system was prepared for an influx of Covid patients.
Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes said Townsville University Hospital had a dedicated 13-bed infectious diseases unit, 14 ICU beds (with plans to expand to 16), virtual care beds and 24 negative pressure rooms across the health service.
Mr Keyes said safe, free, and effective vaccinations remained the best defence against Covid.
“It is more important than ever that communities whose vaccination rates are low do their part to improve them,” Mr Keyes said.
“Our Covid-19 vaccination outreach team continues to visit rural and remote communities and will be in Charters Towers on October 25-25 and November 25-26, in Ingham on November 8-9 and in the Burdekin on November 15-17.”