Media release – Senator Anne Urquhart & Chris Lynch Labor Candidate For Braddon – 3 August 2021
North West Tas Vaccination Statistics Lagging
Statistics released by the Morrison government show that COVID vaccination rates in west and north-west Tasmania are seriously lagging behind Hobart and Launceston with just 21.8 per cent of people aged over 15 having been fully vaccinated.
Federal Labor has called on the Morrison Government to roll up its sleeves in the race to vaccinate the nation and provide a one-off $300 payment to every fully-vaccinated Australian.
This support would be a further incentive for Tasmanians to be fully vaccinated and would deliver a much-needed shot in the arm for businesses, workers and families struggling from lockdowns made necessary by the Morrison Government’s failures with the vaccine rollout.
Devonport based Senator Anne Urquhart today called on the Morrison government to stop neglecting the people of north-west Tasmania, prioritise measures to vaccinate more north-west coasters and introduce a $300 payment to every person who is fully vaccinated by 1 December.
Senator Urquhart said:
Vaccinations are a race Australians can no longer afford to lose.
Tasmania’s health system is in such a sorry state it would never cope with a Delta strain outbreak.
The Morrison Government must make vaccines easily accessible to north-west and west coast residents to meet its target to vaccinate 80 per cent of adults.
The National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response released last Friday included measures ‘encouraging uptake through incentives’ under Phase B. This should be a priority.
Chris Lynch, Labor candidate for Braddon said:
Businesses here in north-west Tasmania are struggling with these seemingly endless lockdowns which have a massive impact on travel and tourism.
I am aware of one business that is permanently on hold until regular flights to the north-west are established. That’s Tasmanian jobs on the line.
That’s why Labor is proposing a $300 payment to every person who is fully vaccinated by 1 December.
These payments will deliver significant cash stimulus for Tasmanian businesses which have paid the price for Scott Morrison’s abject failures on vaccines and quarantine for the past eighteen months.
Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Health, 3 August 2021
Vaccinations for Tasmanians experiencing homelessness
The Tasmanian Government has partnered with Moreton Group Medical Services to deliver vaccinations at common gathering points for those experiencing homelessness.
This includes people sleeping rough, at risk of homelessness and in long and short-term emergency accommodation.
Tasmanians experiencing homelessness who do not access specialist homelessness services are also being targeted through clinics on the street, visits to caravan parks, and collaboration with the Department of Communities for all brokered accommodation.
We are also collaborating with the Salvation Army through its ‘Street to Home’ program in the south and the Doorways emergency relief programs in the north and north-west.
Moreton Group Medical Services has been delivering these vaccinations for the past 15 weeks, and has so far delivered more than 400 vaccine doses.
This is part of the Tasmanian Government’s efforts to get as many Tasmanians vaccinated as possible.
We have also run more than 60 clinics in different locations across the state, including specialist clinics for NDIS participants and carers and aged care workers, tourism and hospitality eligible workers, meat processing and priority emergency service workers.
This is one of the largest health logistics exercises in our country’s history, and Tasmania has been leading the way.
Vaccination remains our best defence against COVID-19 and I’d like to thank Tasmanians for rolling up their sleeves and protecting themselves, their families and the community.
To find out whether you are eligible for a vaccine, please visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination/vaccine-eligibility
You can make an appointment by calling the Public Health Hotline 1800 671 738, or online at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination/Book-your-vaccine
South Launceston Pfizer vaccination clinic
Eligible Tasmanians in northern Tasmania will now have access to a new high-capacity Pfizer vaccination clinic from today (Tuesday, August 3).
The Tasmanian Government clinic is capable of vaccinating 400 people daily, putting it on par with the state’s highest volume clinics.
Tasmania is leading the nation with our vaccination roll-out, and last week, we extended eligibility for Pfizer to include those aged 30 to 39 years.
Eligible Tasmanians aged 30 to 59 who have not yet been vaccinated with a first dose are urged to book in for their Pfizer vaccine.
If anyone in this age group has had an AztraZeneca first dose, please make sure you get your second jab of AstraZeneca for maximum protection.
The clinic is open 9am to 5pm at the Door of Hope Christian Church building, 50 Glen Dhu Street, South Launceston.
Our aim is to get as many Tasmanians vaccinated as soon as possible, and there is no end date for this new clinic at this stage.
Outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta strain in mainland states further underlines the need for Tasmanians to get vaccinated.
Vaccination is an important way to protect you, your family, and the community against COVID-19, particularly when there is the risk of undetected COVID-19 in the community.
The more people that get vaccinated, the more chance we have of beating COVID-19 and returning to a more normal way of life.
To find out whether you are eligible for a vaccine, please visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination/vaccine-eligibility
You can make an appointment by calling the Public Health Hotline 1800 671 738, or online at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination/Book-your-vaccine
