HERCULEAN EFFORT TO EXPEDITE JAB ROLLOUT

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine took less than a year to develop. That is astonishing given the previous fastest – the mumps vaccine – took four years to be developed. Given the speed that it has been developed, it is natural for some to be apprehensive. But all Gold Coasters, anxious or not, should take heart from the incredible work done by our healthcare workers to get ready for the start of the vaccine’s rollout on the Gold Coast on Monday. As reported by Emily Toxward, people like Paula Duffy and Rachael Raleigh have been working on the rollout for months to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible. Starting with 300 people a day (the first being frontline medics, hotel quarantine staff and border workers), Ms Duffy expects the number of vaccinations to grow until everyone has had a jab by October. The sheer scale of the rollout can’t be understated. The vaccination hub at Gold Coast University Hospital will be open from 7.30am to 5.30pm for the first week before extending its hours to 9pm. Mass vaccination centres are expected to be operational across the Gold Coast by mid-March. Gold Coasters will be able to book online with priority given to older residents and those with health conditions. So, following a year where tens of thousands of people were made unemployed or put on government wage subsidies, where the tourism industry has been shattered, and health workers run ragged, let’s celebrate this achievement for what it is – a great day for the Gold Coast and Australia.