Great Southern rollout of Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID vaccines starts to take shape

Vaccine clinics are popping up around the Great Southern as part of the Department of Health’s regional rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Katanning residents, such as 63-year-old Ian Billing, were able to get their first shot of the Pfizer dose at a vaccine clinic at Katanning Medical Service on May 27 and 28. And while the Great Southern region has been largely protected from COVID-19, Pioneer Health’s James Turner has urged people to get the vaccine to be prepared in case of an outbreak. “That is the risk, because if there is suddenly an outbreak, it happens very quickly and we can’t suddenly vaccinate everyone,” Dr Turner said. “The best thing to consider is that if there is an outbreak in Perth that’s significant or finds its way down to Albany ... how safe do I want to be?” The WA Health Department clinics are being set up for “priority target groups” across several Great Southern towns including Katanning, Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Kojonup, Mt Barker, Wagin and Narrogin. Mr Billing was able to get the Pfizer jab because of an underlying medical condition which meant he was classified in the 1B priority group. The AstraZeneca jab was also administered in the clinics for Katanning residents aged 50 and over. Priority health workers in category 1A have received their jabs, including workers in the local meat and shearing industries. Western Australian Meat Marketing Co-operative ’s Katanning manager Tony Bessell said about 100 workers volunteered earlier this year for the AstraZeneca jab under phase one of the meat industry rollout. “WAMMCO has been an integral part of a highly successful industry-wide protocol to keep COVID-19 out of our processing plants,” he said. “It is important for our workers to receive maximum personal protection as well as achieving community immunity as early as possible in the program.” A Department of Health spokesman said all Western Australians were encouraged to register at Roll Up for WA, with those eligible able to book an appointment. “Those who register who are not yet eligible will be contacted when they become eligible,” the spokesman said. Clinic dates are updated on healthywa.wa.gov.au.