‘Get the needle now’ message has kick started a six-week campaign to ‘Keep Culture Safe and Strong’ as WA borders open tomorrow.
Vaccine Commander, Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Dreibergs was in Yagan Square today to raise awareness of the importance of being fully vaccinated.
“Now is the time to step up to protect yourself, your family and your community to keep your culture safe and strong” Mr Dreibergs said.
Perth vaccine staff have been deployed to regional WA to support the campaign and increase vaccination rates among our Indigenous communities, offering additional clinics and opportunities to boost vaccination rates.
Mr Dreibergs said, it’s is up to everyone to ensure we stay protected from COVID-19.
More than 50 metropolitan vaccinators and support staff, working a fly-in,fly-out style roster, will be deployed into the Kimberley, Pilbara, Midwest and Goldfields regions over the next six weeks to provide additional support to regional vaccination teams and supplement the great work already being done by Aboriginal Health Services and organisations to protect communities across the State.
Mr Dreibergs said “WA Country Heath Service (WACHS) staff already based in the regions will concentrate efforts in the areas they know best. WACHS teams will travel to communities and engage at the grass-roots level, yarning with community members face to face, and providing vaccinations in homes and at community events.”
“Increasing vaccination rates among vulnerable communities is of the utmost importance and is a key area of focus for the WA COVID-19 Vaccine Program. The ‘Keeping Culture Safe and Strong - Get the needle now’ campaign aims to ensure Aboriginal people and communities are protected.”
Stakeholders including health, police, shires and Aboriginal-led organisations will yarn with community members to assist with access to vaccinations.
In addition, the Maxi-Vaxi bus and other mobile units will increase options in the regions, providing flexible, culturally appropriate vaccination opportunities as they travel around.
Mr Dreibergs says, “Vaccination remains the best protection we have against serious illness and death from COVID-19 in our communities. We need everyone from children to Elders in our communities to get the needle now to protect each other.”
“As we open our borders and we see COVID cases increasing every day, protect our families, loved ones and community through vaccination is more important than ever. The vaccine is free and available from community clinics, Aboriginal medical services, GPs and chemists across the regions.”
As WA opens borders fully and we see COVID cases increasing every day, protecting our families, loved ones and community through vaccination is more important than ever.
“The vaccine is free and available from community clinics, Aboriginal medical services, GPs and chemists across the regions.”
(ENDS)
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