Frontline staff ‘set an example’ as first to receive COVID vaccine Injection of hope PM’s vow on better delivery as jab rollout starts
“IT’S exciting but scary.”
That’s how Val Nancarrow described being one of the first people in regional Queensland to receive the Pfizer coronavirus jab on Friday.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander liaison officer said she chose to receive the vaccine “to set an example”.
“I have a chronic disease, I am a high-risk person,” she said.
Ms Nancarrow was the second to receive the Pfizer shot, after infectious disease expert Simon Smith.
“Everybody is different and they respond to vaccines differently,” she said.
“My son lives in Melbourne and seeing all those people in PPE was scary; I want to get back to normality.”
One hundred frontline workers received the vaccine at Cairns Hospital on the first day of the rollout; less than half of the region’s daily capacity of 250 shots, seven days a week.
“We want to make sure the system delivers effectively,” Cairns and Hinterland Health Service executive director medical services Don Mackie said. Dr Mackie called the herculean effort of delivering the Pfizer vaccine a “massive logistic exercise.”
“The part of delivering it now becomes a clinical exercise,” he said. “There has been a lot planning, some intense training and we are ready to get on with it.”
As an international travel hub and in proximity to vulnerable Cape York communities, Cairns was one of the first areas in regional Queensland to begin the Pfizer rollout.
“The effect of the virus on the Cairns economy is palpable,” Dr Mackie said.
“You can see it when you walk down the street; we have done really well in Queensland to control the virus and this is the next step.”
The Cairns and Hinterland Health Service has received 195 vials of the vaccine. The initial supply will be enough for at least 1000 first doses.
The Pfizer shots comprise phase 1A of the vaccine rollout; Phase 1B is expected to begin next month.
Aged care and disability care residents and care staff, quarantine and border workers and frontline health-care staff are eligible to receive the Pfizer jab and will be contacted to arrange their inoculation appointment. “Please don’t just turn up,” Dr Mackie said.
Queensland Health has been at pains to reassure Cairns residents of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, especially after antimandatory vaccine rallies this month spread misinformation about the vaccines and the pandemic.
“The vast majority of people are excited and happy to be vaccinated,” Dr Smith said.
“Once they see it is safe and effective, they will be keen.
“The technologies used for some of the COVID vaccines are really new. Because of the global need, most countries were working on it.
“It is really exciting and can show the possibilities for other respiratory vaccines.”
One hour after receiving the jab, Dr Smith said he felt no ill effects and had already booked in his second shot.
“In order for vaccines to work as well as they can, your immune system should be working as well as possible,” he said. “Eat well, get enough sleep and avoid alcohol.”
Ms Nancarrow said she was feeling fine after receiving the Pfizer inoculation. “I just want to protect myself, my family and my patients,” she said.