Calls to prioritise regional and rural areas in vaccine rollout

THERE are calls to prioritise vulnerable regional, rural and remote Australians for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on Monday. The National Rural Health CEO Gabrielle O’Kane said people in rural, regional and remote communities experienced poorer health outcomes than those in major cities, which put them in a higher risk category for serious health complications associated with COVID-19. “It is also much harder to access health services in country areas because we have the situation of persistent inadequate staffing and lack of availability to essential medical and health services in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia. “As government launches this unprecedented vaccination rollout, rural Australia is at an unacceptable basis of disadvantage and we urge the government to acknowledge the disparity in rural health access and outcomes when classifying priority groups for vaccination.” Last week Minister Greg Hunt announced details of the vaccination program, which will be conducted through 30-50 vaccination hubs, Commonwealth-funded GP-led Respiratory Clinics, Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Services, private GP practices and community pharmacies. People who need protection the most will get the vaccine first. This includes aged care and disability care residents and workers, frontline health care workers, and quarantine and border workers. Nationals MP Damian Drum (MHR, Nicholls) said the provisional approval for the vaccine for use in would add further confidence to Australia’s vaccine strategy. “This is an important moment for the people of Nicholls and for the whole of Australia,” Mr Drum said. “The approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine comes after rigorous and independent assessment by the TGA, which shows it meets Australian standards for safety, quality and efficacy.” The vaccine will be provided free to Australians, with a priority group of Australians expected to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in late February and early March. Arrangements under the Australian Vaccination Strategy are being finalised between Federal and State governments and detailed roll out plans are expected soon with more than 1000 vaccination administration sites.