Be a vaccination hero

Despite case numbers continuing to grow in Victoria, there are some comforting statistics in the daily Covid numbers released by the state government.

Every day last week set a new record for the number of vaccinations administered through state run clinics in a single day.

Less happy news is the case numbers show the young and unvaccinated are disproportionally represented in the figures, with 87 per cent of Victoria’s current cases aged under 50.

The Health Minister Martin Foley, echoed the statement of the Premier from earlier in the week, saying this was a “pandemic of the unvaccinated”.

At Saturday’s press conference, the government confirmed that 89 per cent of Covid patients in hospital were unvaccinated and 11 per cent had only received their first dose. The figures clearly show vaccination decreases your chances of catching or being hospitalised due to Covid.

However the overall rate of vaccination across the state is still a long way from the magic 80 per cent target, with the minister confirming on Saturday that 65 per cent of eligible Victorians had received their first dose.

The government is calling on people who are eligible, to book in for a vaccination, stressing that there were thousands of AstraZeneca doses available.

Businesses from across Phillip Island and San Remo and beyond have added their voices to the call.

Alongside the Advertiser, pharmacists, doctors, real estate agents, local schools, Bendigo Community Banks, Bass Coast Shire Council, Phillip Island Nature Parks and Destination Phillip Island are all part of a campaign running throughout September to encourage Bass Coast residents to come forward and be vaccinated.

Smiling faces of fully vaccinated locals adorn the campaign ads, encouraging people to get vaccination, “to protect yourself, your family, friends and our community”.

Greg Kossena from Priceline Pharmacy in Cowes said the solution is simple.

“We need everyone who can be vaccinated to get vaccinated. As we approach the critical thresholds for vaccination (70-80 per cent of the population) we will be able to reclaim the freedoms we are currently desperately missing. For our town in particular, the holiday feel needs to return, and this is the only way to get that back,” Greg said.

“As a crucial supplier of this vaccine, we know this is the only way back to a country free from angst. And that’s something our team are willing to work hard for.”

Greg said the pharmacy is currently offering AstraZeneca vaccinations, with the Moderna vaccine to follow shortly.

“We encourage everyone to chip in to encourage those not yet vaccinated to book in as soon as they can, and as they say, the best vaccine in the one you can get today! As always, any questions, please ask our Priceline Pharmacy team!”

Darren Parker, the Principal at Wonthaggi Secondary College said the school welcomed the prioritising of Year 12 students in the vaccine roll out.

“The college encourages our community members to get a Covid vaccination as soon as they are eligible. When enough people are immunised, it not only supports our longed-for reconnection with families, friends, activities and so on, it also helps protect those who can’t be immunised,” he said.

“It is a solution that involves us working together; that is something our Bass Coast community has a proud history of doing.”