Vax factor at festival

FESTIVAL goers have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated on the first day of Savannah in the Round while listening to an amazing line-up of Australian talent.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service set up a pop-up clinic at the front of the festival for the first day of the three-day event.

Forty people were vaccinated from 8am until 4pm on Friday, with some getting their first and others getting their second dose.

Covid vaccination program director Kelly Pollock said they were excited to do more pop-up clinics in the Cairns and Hinterland region.

“The reaction has been very positive,” Ms Pollock said.

There was a great response from people at the festival.

“Festival goers told us that this was a great idea,” Ms Pollock said.

“Pop-up clinics are an excellent way for people to get vaccinated by going out to where people live, work and play.”

Savannah in the Round event director James Dein said the more people that were vaccinated, the sooner the music industry could return to normal.

“Creating a festival in the middle of a pandemic is no easy task, but vaccination is the key to freedom,” Mr Dein said.

“We have worked hard for over two years now on ensuring our Covid plan is best practice.”

It is the first music festival vaccination hub in Australia and Mr Dein was encouraging patrons to get jabbed on Friday.

It was easy to get vaccinated with staff approaching festival goers as soon as they walked in to see if they were interested in getting the jab.

“It was pretty well received. We had no negativity or pushback,” Mr Dein said.

While the vaccination hub ended at the festival on Friday, there are plenty of opportunities to still get the jab with the Cairns Convention Centre vaccination hub open.

On Friday, 893 people were vaccinated, with most people receiving their second dose.

The Cairns Convention Centre hub is open six days a week (closed Mondays) from 7am to 3pm until October 10.

Anyone over the age of 12 is welcome to attend the Cairns Convention Centre with free parking available.

Registrations are preferred but walk-ins are available.