Co-op chief: Roll up your sleeves
Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative chief executive Tony Craig has encouraged the region’s indigenous community to roll up its sleeves and get vaccinated.
Mr Craig said the organisation had hosted several pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the past couple of weeks and leaders were pleased with early results.
“We want to encourage all of our community to come in, because we know now the Delta variant can’t be stopped,” he said.
“If and when it does come to our community, we want everyone to be protected.”
Research shows indigenous Australians are at increased risk of COVID-19 due to existing health and socio-economic inequities.
“It’s a higher-risk cohort and that’s been recognised from day one,” Mr Craig said.
“We did such a magnificent job keeping everyone safe during the big outbreaks last year.
“This is our chance now to prove again that Aboriginal communities can do that really well.
“We’ve really seen a boost in people coming through and getting vaccinated and we hope that continues.
“It’s like all communities, we just need our leaders out there getting the vaxes and showing the way. Most people are having the Pfizer, so it’s been a good result so far.”
Mr Craig said the region’s indigenous vaccination rate would be close to the state average.
“In the past week we’ve had a real boost in interest and people queuing up,” he said.
“I reckon by the end of the month we’ll be right on if not ahead of the average.
“Country areas haven’t been affected but now we’re seeing it in country areas. That’s the reason why people are getting the vaccine.
“We all want to get out of lockdown but we all realise that needs to be done properly and safely and we’ve realised that vaccinations are the way to do that. “Everyone come and get a jab.” Goolum Goolum family supports manager Kelly Britten has had her first of two Pfizer doses.
“I’ve had no problems so far, just a sore arm,” she said.
“I believe most of our staff are vaccinated, at least with the first one, and quite a few with their second already.
“We’ve also had more interest with our general community.
“We saw a lot come through our clinic on Tuesday, which is really good to see.”
Ms Britten said there were many conflicting opinions in relation to getting vaccinated and encouraged people to seek medical advice.
“I think it’s important for people to speak to their doctor – that’s what I did,” she said.
“I went in and had a 40-minute conversation, I asked every question I could ever think of, and then I could walk away fully informed about the decision I was going to make for myself.
“What made me really think about getting the vaccine is, what happens if I get COVID? And then what happens to my family?
“I weighed those options up and then decided to get the vaccine.”
Ms Britten said the co-operative’s vaccination clinics were for the region’s Aboriginal and wider communities.
People can call 5381 6330 for information about upcoming vaccination clinics.