MDAS has seen a rise in people wanting to be vaccinated since the latest snap lockdown.
Before the lockdown, MDAS Health Services in Mildura was providing one COVID-19 vaccination clinic each week to meet demand.
This has since risen to three clinics per week, ensuring as many as 30 to 40 people receive the COVID-19 vaccination each week.
“The lockdown certainly reminded people of the severity of COVID-19 and the importance of the vaccine,” Mallee District Aboriginal Services’ (MDAS) acting clinical co-ordinator Alex McWilliam said.
“We really hope to see the increased uptake continue.
“We have already seen a lot of our local elders vaccinated, which is really important because it helps show others in the community vaccination is important and safe.”
There has been some degree of “vaccination hesitation” in the local Aboriginal community, but Mr McWilliam said MDAS was keen to overcome this.
“We’re encouraging everyone to ask questions, think about it, do your own research, and then come back and have the vaccination if you want to,” he said.
“It’s fine to make an appointment just to ask questions about the vaccination because it is really important we are all having these conversations.”
People are able to check their eligibility for the vaccine online at covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility and phone to make an appointment on the MDAS free-call number 1800 183 593.
