Locals add their voices to the vaccination calls

Businesses from across Phillip Island and San Remo and beyond have added their voices to the campaign to reach 80 per cent vaccination rates.

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, which are encouraging people to get vaccinated, “to protect yourself, your family, friends and our community”.

Catherine Basterfield, CEO of the Phillip Island Nature Parks said the organisation was “so pleased to have the opportunity to join a range of organisations and businesses across the region in the Advertiser’s campaign to encourage everyone to get vaccinated”.

“This is one of the most important and meaningful contributions we can all make at the moment to protect our family, our friends, and our community.

“We have been encouraging our staff to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible, and recently announced that we will be implementing the state government’s policy of providing up to half a day of paid leave for all our staff, including casual staff, to get each dose of the vaccine,” Ms Basterfield said.

“We’re looking forward to the time when all Victorians can once again move around more freely, gather together with friends and family, and of course come and visit our attractions. As a primarily visitor-funded organisation, the Nature Parks relies on visitors to carry out its important conservation, research, education and social programmes, and we can’t wait to welcome them back when it’s safe to do so.”

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child said it was great to see so many different faces and so many local businesses involved in the campaign.

“Our long-term way out is for all of us to be immunised. If all of us collectively do what’s important – get vaccinated – our chances of a better Christmas are so much stronger.

“This is something that takes everybody to be a part of.”

Ms Child said the message from BCH to its own staff was that vaccination was good for their patients, their colleagues and their families.

And with children under 12 not yet able to be vaccinated, the community needed to protect them.

“Younger people aren’t vaccinated, so if ever there was a reason to be vaccinated, it’s to protect our young people,” she said.

“They’re the ones who are the most vulnerable at the moment.”

For details on how to book a vaccination visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres.

To make a booking at a state vaccination clinic, call 1800 675 398 or go to portal.cvms.vic.gov.au.