Get vaccinated as soon as you can
Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child is urging people to get their third shot as soon as possible.
The state government announced a vaccination blitz last week, starting on Friday, January 22.
Any Victorian over the age of 18 is now eligible to get their third dose of COVID-19 vaccine after three months. The reduced timeframe was recommended by Victoria’s public health team and means 1.2 million more people are now eligible for the booster shot.
Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child is urging people to get their third shot as soon as possible and is concerned the take-up has been slower than expected.
“We have plenty of stock and you can pretty much walk in to the vaccination clinic in the Wonthaggi Town Hall without an appointment,” she said “When we were doing second doses, we had long lines but now it has slowed down. We would love to have more people come in.”
Ms Child said there was a large team working on the vaccinations and every cubicle is operating to maximise the clinic’s capacity.
She said even those who had had Covid needed to get the booster shot and as long as symptoms were gone, people should come and have their third shot as soon as they are eligible.
“After you’ve had Covid, you’ve got natural immunity for a little while, but if you have the third shot, it will strengthen and maintain that immunity.”
Vaccine hesitancy
Ms Child said she was aware many people felt getting the virus was now inevitable and “they may as well just get it over with”.
However she recommended doing everything possible to protect yourself from the virus.
“Just because you got Omicron, that doesn’t protect you against the next variant,” she said. “We don’t yet know the long-term effects of Omicron although we do know the long-term effects of Delta and it’s a nasty legacy.
“I’ve tried to stay Covid free because I am worried about long Covid. People my age don’t do well with long Covid. People with asthma don’t do well.”
She said anyone who had tested positive and had lingering or recurring symptoms, including headaches and brain fog should contact their GP.
“It’s important to make sure it is being managed properly.”
Future
Ms Child said there will be more Covid variants, and it was likely the need for vaccinations would be ongoing.
“If you watch the world-wide example, I think there will be other vaccinations required for other variants. This virus has an amazing capacity to mutate and change and that makes it dangerous. That’s why this is a pandemic.
“We might need to have another booster by winter. It might be we need to do this until the pandemic subsides.
“I feel confident that immunisation works. Just like you change flu vax each year, or some years you get two doses, we will have to be flexible with our Covid vaccination.”
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres for locations, hours and access information. Bookings can also be made online at portal.cvms.vic.gov.au or by calling 1800 675 398.
Those who want to get their third dose at a local GPs or pharmacy can also book through the online clinic finder at covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking/.
