MEMBERS of the south-west's Aboriginal community will have access to a COVID-19 vaccine van from Tuesday.
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With large parts of Victoria reopened over the weekend, Gunditjmara chief executive officer Ashley Couzens said he was worried about unvaccinated members of the community being left behind.
"With the state opening right up I obviously have concerns about the health and safety of members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community who have not been vaccinated," he said.
"Many members of our community in Warrnambool have a number of pre-existing health conditions, which means they could be at greater risk of getting seriously ill should they contract COVID-19. The rollout of a dedicated vaccine van will play an important part in taking the vaccine to those who have struggled to gain that important access."
According to the federal government's department of health, 85 per cent of Indigenous people aged 15 and over in Warrnambool and the south-west had received one COVID-19 vaccination and 65.9 per cent were fully vaccinated.
The van will be staffed by health professionals from Star Health and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation with walk-ins welcome and no booking required.
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It will be at the Harris Street Reserve between 9am and 5pm for four days until Friday, with the specialised staff administering Pfizer vaccines. It's the third time the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation COVID-19 Vaccine Van has been to Warrnambool.
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