A NEW Covid-19 vaccination hub providing Pfizer vaccines could open in the Riverland in the comings weeks, as current clinics struggle to meet demand.
Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone said he had written to both the state’s Health Minister Stephen Wade and the state’s Transition Committee to request a new hub be opened in the Riverland.
“At the moment we are dealing with a staff shortage, primarily due to staff being redirected to medi-hotels and undertaking swabbing,” he said.
“Student nurses are being looked at to administer vaccinations, as well as retired nurses to bring them into the mix with undertaking vaccinations, because currently it’s only registered nurses.
“I’m hoping that another hub will be opened up in the next week or two, and that is what I’m resting on until I receive further briefing.”
Mr Whetstone said he was hoping the number of Pfizer vaccines in the region each week would increase from 800 – all at the Flinders University vaccination clinic at the Riverland General Hospital in Berri – to 1500.
Appointments at the Riverland General Hospital hub – the only clinic in the region providing Pfizer vaccines – are currently unavailable through the SA Health website, with bookings filled until October.
Online booking systems for the AstraZeneca vaccine in Riverland general practices show appointments are booked up for four weeks in Renmark and six weeks in Berri.
Mr Whetstone said the lack of local vaccine appointments was “very frustrating”.
“My office is being bombarded because people can’t make a booking so they are living with uncertainty,” he said.
“I share the frustrations of people who are looking to make a booking and get vaccinated and I urge people just to continue to persist and be vigilant with trying to make a booking.”
Meanwhile, a federal government advertising campaign encouraging people to get vaccinated launched recently, despite a lack of Pfizer vaccine appointments in the Riverland.
The government’s new Arm Yourself campaign features people with a Band Aid on their arm, representing being vaccinated, and is meant to reflect the “step up” in the vaccination rollout.
Barker MP Tony Pasin urged people to get vaccinated as soon as possible and said the Covid-19 vaccine was the best way people could protect themselves, the people they care about and the wider community.
“The advertising strategy has always been designed to evolve in line with the vaccination program,” he said.
“I encourage those not yet vaccinated to make a booking, and they can do that through the eligibility checker and finder service at australia.gov.au,” Mr Pasin said.
“Barker residents who have armed themselves with the vaccine know they are protecting themselves and our community, and I thank them for that and encourage others to now make their vaccination booking.”