Thursday, 9 September 2021
PEOPLE across the region are continuing to roll up their sleeves in record numbers, with almost two-thirds of the region’s population, 15 years and over, having now received their first dose, according to data released today by Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
A delighted Mr Marshall released the weekly COVID-19 vaccination rate update for each local government area across the Northern Tablelands, provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health, which shows the Uralla and Glen Innes communities leading the way for the region with first-dose vaccine rates in excess of 67 per cent
“These figures are simply outstanding and I cannot thank the community enough for the effort they are making, turning out and rolling up their sleeves,” Mr Marshall said.
“Almost two-thirds of the people in our region has now received their first dose of COVID vaccine, an increase of six per cent on the previous week.
“Overall, I think this reflects the increasing desire of people to get vaccinated, but also the increasing opportunities to do so across the region.”
Mr Marshall praised the efforts of medical practitioners in Gwydir Shire, which recorded an impressive 9.5 per cent increase in first doses since last week.
“Uralla has maintained its lead over the region and is now just shy of 70 per cent (69.7%) of its adult population vaccinated with their first dose, which is credit to the local GPs, pharmacy and community,” he said.
“Inverell also had a large bump of first doses (6.1% increase) in the last week, which is great to see.
“It just shows that when opportunities are made available to get vaccinated more quickly and more easily, people are happy to take advantage.”
Three local government areas have more than 35 per cent of their population fully vaccinated – Uralla LGA has an enormous 41.3 per cent with two doses, Armidale Regional has 37.5 per cent and Glen Innes Severn stands at 35.5 per cent.
“Congratulations and thank you to everyone who has rolled up their sleeves and also to all our medical professionals who are working hard to put these vaccines into arms across the region,” Mr Marshall said.
“We’ve now got to keep up the pace and our effort – as we know, the faster we can get to the 70 and 80 per cent mark, the sooner we can have certainty and can get back to some form of normality in our daily lives – and never have lockdowns again.
“While the National Vaccination Rollout has been clunky and difficult to navigate for many, there are now many opportunities across our region to get vaccinated and get vaccinated quickly and I urge people to make an appointment today and do their bit for themselves, their family and their community.”
To find your nearest COVID vaccination clinic, visit www.covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility
Mr Marshall said he’d be releasing new figures each week, so communities could see how they were tracking.
The next Super Saturday UNE Medical Centre Mass Vaccination Walk-In Hub will be in Armidale this weekend.