‘V’ for vaccination – Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall received his first vaccination jab yesterday.
Friday, 16 July 2021
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall rolled up his sleeve yesterday to receive his first jab of COVID-19 vaccine and used the moment to issue a challenge to the community – ‘get vaccinated now or risk ongoing extensive lock-downs.’
Mr Marshall received his first vaccine dose at the Uralla Medical Centre, which has so far administered 857 doses of AstraZeneca and 368 Pfizer vaccines to members of the community.
“With the Delta-variant of COVID-19 spreading at an alarming rate, at this stage in the pandemic it’s clear, if you are not already, your country needs you to get vaccinated now,” Mr Marshall said.
“As far as I’m concerned the entire adult population of NSW, unless they have an underlying health condition, is now eligible for a jab and should be taking every possible step to get one.
“If you are aged 18 to 59 you can contact your doctor today and have a suitability assessment to receive the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines, as soon as an appointment is available.
“Currently our local GP clinics are doing an outstanding job administering the vaccine, while operating their day-to-day practice, but long-term this is not the most efficient way to get the entire population inoculated.
“I have raised with the Federal Government the need for additional outreach clinics and mobile-vaccination teams to be established now, to accommodate the flood of additional Pfizer vaccine which is supposed to be coming.
“The Commonwealth needs to give the community assurance that people will be given equal access to all COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of their location.
“The Federal Government needs to be working now, and letting the public know, what it is doing to ensure there are enough resources and workforce on the ground to put thousands of extra jabs in arms.
“I think it is shocking Australia’s vaccination rates are amongst the lowest in the developed world.
“I will be campaigning hard between now and December to see those figures turned around, in the hope of ensuring a normal summer holidays and preventing further economy crippling lockdowns.”
Mr Marshall congratulated the Uralla Medical Centre’s Dr Ricardo, and staff, for their herculean effort to make vaccine available to people from across the entire New England and North-West.
“The staff of the Uralla Medical Centre are heroes when it comes to the national COVID-19 vaccine rollout, averaging 350 Pfizer and 270 AstraZeneca jabs a week,” he said.
“By operating vaccination clinics Thursday, Friday and all day Sunday, they have managed to forward book 912 Pfizer and 623 AstraZeneca appointments over the next three weeks.
“Every Sunday clinic between now and September is already booked, with an average of 280 vaccines to be administered a day.
“Uralla Medical Centre has proven there is a huge appetite in the community for vaccination. Patients have travelled from as far as Murrurundi, Quirindi, Gunnedah and Tenterfield.
“Dr Ricardo’s push to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible reflects the commitment we all need to make to get back life back to relative normality. His staff are working huge hours and I thank them all sincerely for that.
“I also want to recognise those other medical professionals across the region, who are doing their bit to make the vaccine rollout as seamless as possible.”
Appointments for local clinics which are administering the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine can be made through the Australian Government’s Vaccine Eligibility Checker.
For people without internet, the NSW COVID-19 Vaccine Booking Assistance Line can be contacted on 1800 571 155.
For questions about COVID-19, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or the National Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 020 080.