Vaccination clinic comes to Gayndah

Gayndah residents aged over 50 will have an opportunity to get vaccinated. Picture: FILE

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service is offering covid-19 vaccinations to Gayndah residents through a special three-day outreach clinic from 10-12 May.

The clinic will be offering the AstraZeneca vaccine, and all residents aged 50 and over from Gayndah are encouraged to book an appointment.

Residents aged under 50 who wish to be vaccinated can choose to do so, but need to talk to the clinic’s medical officer about risks and benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Covid-19 outreach vaccination clinic will be located at Gayndah Hospital, and will be open:

• Monday, 10 May: 12-6pm

• Tuesday, 11 May: 7am-6pm

• Wednesday, 12 May: 7am-10am

WBHHS Vaccine Lead and Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services Fiona Sewell said operating the Gayndah clinic was part of WBHHS’s effort to support the Queensland and Australian governments in rolling out the vaccine in planned stages.

“It’s fantastic to be able to offer Covid-19 vaccine to the Gayndah community as our team continues to support the rollout across the Wide Bay-Burnett,” Ms Sewell said.

“So far, our focus has been on vaccinating our healthcare workers and other critical frontline workers in the community. But now that a significant proportion of those workers have received their first dose, our vaccine clinic teams are working to maximise available supply and resources by supporting the rollout in smaller communities, as we can.

“Currently there are no medical practices in Gayndah with the capacity to provide the vaccine, which is why WBHHS is stepping in to support the community.

“We know that the risk of severe illness or death from covid-19 is highest in older age groups, particularly rising from 50 years of age. So we’re working closely with the local GP practices to vaccinate Gayndah residents who understand the need to be protected against covid-19, and whose nearest available practices offering the vaccine would otherwise be in Mundubbera or Biggenden.

“GPs continue to be great partners in the rollout and we’re particularly grateful to GP practices in Gayndah for their support promoting the upcoming clinics to their patients and the general community.”

To make an appointment for the covid-19 outreach vaccination clinic, call the WBHHS booking hotline on 4303 8700 from 8am–4.30pm, Monday to Friday (you can leave a message outside those hours). The clinic will accept walk-ins, however people with an appointment will be given priority.