The COVID-19 vaccine program has been progressing smoothly at the two Lakes Entrance medical clinics, with both reporting an increase in bookings over the past week.
The COVID-19 outbreak that is affecting Victoria has seen an increase in requests for vaccination in Lakes Entrance.
Between Cunninghame Arm Medical Centre and its sister clinic, Dr Janes Place in Bairnsdale, just over 1300 people have been vaccinated.
However, there are still plenty more patients in the over-40 group to reach.
At Cunninghame Arm Medical Centre they have been running twice weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinics on Tuesday and Friday evenings.
“Originally we were allocated 100 doses per week of the AstraZeneca vaccines, however we have now had that boosted to 300 doses per week,” a spokesperson from the clinic said.
“We have seen an influx of people wanting their vaccination over the past week due to the recent lockdown and we opened up a vaccination clinic for last Saturday, which was by appointment only, which quickly filled up.
“We will be looking at opening up another Saturday clinic in the coming weeks,” the spokesperson said.
The Cunninghame Arm Clinic reported it had not been given any Pfizer vaccinations.
At the end of last week, Gipppsland Lakes Complete Health (GLCH) in Jemmeson Street reported they had given 1500 AstraZeneca vaccines at the clinic, which operates on a Thursday.
“We have been much busier this last week, I think it has been a bit of a wakeup call,” GLCH executive officer, Sue Medson, said.
“We have had a good supply of the vaccine and will add extra clinics if the demand is there.”
The AstraZeneca vaccine is available to anyone aged over 50.
To get a booking for the vaccine just phone the clinic, you will then be given a time, so there are no long queues or waiting times.
After the needle there is a 15-minute wait to check for any adverse reactions and you will then get a date for your second vaccination. Ms Medson reported there had been no severe reactions to the vaccine.
If you are under 50, a new vaccine hub opened at the Bairnsdale Football Ground opened Yesterday, which will have a supply of the Pfizer vaccination.
You will need to book an appointment through the vaccination Hotline.
IMAGE: Nurse Sue Rowlands gives Dr Mina Tadrous his COVID-19 vaccine at Cunninghame Arm Medical Centre.
