Vaccination on the move – clinic comes to Cowes

Pop up clinics on Phillip Island this month will make it easier for people to get their Covid vaccination or booster shot.

People will be able to walk in, no appointment needed, to an outreach clinic in Cowes on March 15 at St John’s Uniting Church, or on Saturday, March 19 at Newhaven College.

Up to 60 per cent of the eligible population on Phillip Island, and also within Wonthaggi and Inverloch, has received their third dose of a Covid vaccine.

Uptake is lower in the Waterline area, where up to 40 per cent of the eligible population has received a third dose.

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child urged everyone eligible for a third dose to get it and give themselves the ultimate protection against COVID-19.

“While we have passed the peak of the current Omicron surge, Covid is still actively spreading within our community and it’s not a matter of ‘if’ we get another variant of Covid but ‘when’,” she said.

“The more people who receive a third dose now, the better prepared our community will be for future surges, particularly as winter approaches, when we are likely to see more Covid cases as people stay indoors and in close confines to each other.

“A third dose of a Covid vaccine helps to boost your immune response and so protects you, your family and your community from the virus,” Ms Child said.

“Overall, Bass Coast area vaccination rates are on par with the state average, with booster rates sitting at approximately 50 per cent of the eligible population.”

Ms Child also encouraged families to have children aged 5-11 years vaccinated. This age group is particularly vulnerable to contracting Covid at school and bringing the virus home to their families.

“Uptake of vaccination by children is not as high as we would like, with around 55 per cent of children in the Cowes, Ventnor and Summerlands areas being vaccinated, and around 45 per cent of children in Rhyll and Wonthaggi so far.

“Inverloch is doing fractionally better at 60 per cent,” she said.

“Our overall 5–11-year-olds vaccination rates are at 48 per cent, which is on par with the state average.

“We really want to see higher rates to be prepared for winter, and we encourage all parents to discuss the benefits with their local GP or with the Immunisers at the vaccination clinic at the Wonthaggi Town Hall and then get their children vaccinated.”

Bass Coast Health offers walk-in vaccinations at the Community Vaccination Clinic at the Wonthaggi Town Hall from 10am-5pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9am-12pm Saturdays.

Special vaccination clinics (also accepting walk-ins) will be at Cowes on Tuesday, March 15, 2-5pm at St John’s Uniting Church in Chapel Street, and on Saturday, March 19, 2-4pm, at Newhaven College, 1770 Phillip Island Road, Phillip Island.