Hundreds of people rolled up their sleeves to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at pop-up clinics held in Pilliga on Friday, August 20 and Wee Waa on Sunday, August 22.

While some eligible residents have been able to make vaccination appointments at the hospital and medical centre, an increase in COVID-19 cases in regional areas has resulted in additional resources and the roll-out of pop-up Pfizer vaccination clinics in rural areas.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service held a vaccination clinic at the Wee Waa Aboriginal Land Council on Sunday and distributed about 360 doses of Pfizer.

The RFDS also held a clinic in Pilliga last Friday, in collaboration with the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, where health workers administered 160 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Twenty-four-year-old Curtis Bolton received the jab at the Pilliga clinic and praised the medical teams for providing regional residents with access to the vaccine.

“A lot of people can’t travel too far, and a lot are on farms too, so it’s really good they’ve come out here,” said Mr Bolton.

The bush clinics were safely set up outside, under the shade of trees, as the resourceful health workers did their best to distribute as many doses as possible.

The queue in Wee Waa stretched down Rose Street outside the Land Council building and spilled around the block, a sign many members of the community are very keen to get vaccinated and fight COVID-19.

Pilliga’s Delphine and Robert Ryan said COVID-19 “was getting too close to home” and they wanted to get vaccinated “so we know we’re safe, to protect others and so we can see our grandkids.” Continued page 3

Wee Waa Aboriginal Land Council chief executive officer Robyn Keeffe said she was “so excited” when she heard the RFDS would set-up a Pfizer clinic in town.

“I jumped at the chance,” said Mrs Keeffe.

“I think it’s wonderful to be able to get our mob all done and also other people – everyone,” said Wee

Waa Aboriginal Land Council chief executive officer Robyn Keeffe about the pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

“I think we’re all vulnerable – we really are because you may do the right thing in your town but other people may not do the right thing, so they bring it to your town.

“So to be vaccinated is just unreal.”

Mrs Keeffe said she understood some people had concerns about the vaccination but hoped they would consider the option.

“I hope that they start to look at  the benefits of the vaccination, and the negative part of not having the vaccination is that if you get COVID – you don’t have a real good chance.”

The RFDS is running the community-led vaccination program in isolated, rural and remote communities across Australia, with funding from the Commonwealth government, and in close coordination with Aboriginal medical services, primary health networks, local hospital districts and state governments.

RFDS teams have also recently given vaccinatins in Coonamble, at the Amartree Hotel and a shearing shed in the Lightning Ridge area.

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