A VACCINATION "sub-hub" that will provide Pfizer vaccines for people aged between 40 and 49 will soon be up and running in Mildura.
Sunraysia Community Health Services (SCHS) has been contracted as a vaccination sub-hub, in partnership with Bendigo Health, which is the region's state-funded vaccination site.
"As such we will now receive allocations of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines on a weekly and ongoing basis," SCHS chief executive Simone Heald said on Thursday.
Ms Heald said the sub-hub would operate from the Kairivu Barracks' army drill hall in San Mateo Avenue, acknowledging the support of Bendigo Health, the Department of Defence, Mildura Rural City Council, Mallee District Aboriginal Services and Mildura Base Public Hospital to establish this site.
Initially, bookings will be by appointment only.
"We are currently working hard to get this clinic set up and will soon be able to take bookings," Ms Heald said.
"We hope to commence the state-run sub-hub vaccination clinic from the week of Monday, June 14."
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said it was a "great team effort" to get the local vaccination sub-hub in place.
"The work of Simone Heald (to get the sub-hub) needs to be recognised in brokering a deal with Bendigo Health," said Ms Cupper, who had also been pushing for a state-run centre in Mildura.
"I'll be putting my name down on June 9 to get vaccinated, which is the best protection for us to stay open because we know COVID is not going away."
Appointments will be available to people under 50 who are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine as part of the 1a and 1b rollout and people aged 40-49 years.
People aged 50 and over, who are eligible for the AstaZeneca vaccine, are encouraged to book through participating GP clinics and the Mildura Respiratory Assessment Clinic at www.hotdoc.com.au.
Last week it was announced that Victorians aged 40-49 would be eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine at state-run vaccination sites.
"Over the past couple of months Bendigo Health has visited Mildura to deliver Pfizer vaccines to front-line health workers and those eligible under phase 1a and 1b of the rollout," SCHS manager of clinic programs Shelley Faulks said.
"We have been negotiating with Bendigo Health for some time to develop a sub-hub, allowing greater access to the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.
"Our supply of AstraZeneca vaccines locally has been good, with a number of GP clinics, including SCHS, administering the vaccine to our community.
"We have been pleased with the response from people in the 50-plus age group to get their vaccinations."
SCHS has been inundated with calls from the community since last week's announcement of the expansion of vaccination criteria to include the 40-49 age group.
Bendigo Health regional vaccination and screening program manager Dan Sheard said the new clinic would build on the existing partnership in the region with SCHS.
"This will give the people of Sunraysia and the Mallee greater access to the COVID-19 vaccines," he said.
"The quicker we can all get vaccinated, the safer our region will be."
Mr Sheard said the COVID-19 Community Vaccination Clinic in Mollison Street, Bendigo, was also available to Loddon-Mallee people who wished to make the trip.
The clinic accepts walk-in Pfizer appointments for 40-49 year olds and eligible groups aged under 40.
For more information, visit www.bendigohealth.org.au/COVID19vaccine.
SUNRAYSIA VACCINATION CENTRES
Pfizer vaccination clinics (ages 40-49 or under 50 according to phase 1a and 1b rollout)
- (from June 14) Army Drill Hall, corner of Twelfth Street and San Mateo Avenue, Mildura
AstraZeneca vaccination clinics
- Mildura Respiratory Assessment Clinic, Sunraysia Community Health, 137 Thirteenth Street, Mildura
- Sunraysia Community Health Services GP clinic, 137 Thirteenth Street, Mildura
- Deakin Medical Centre, 255 Deakin Avenue, Mildura
- Irymple Medical Centre, 2109 Fifteenth Street, Irymple
- Lime Medical Clinic, 154 Lime Avenue, Mildura
- Living Rock Medical Centre, 55 Hunter Street, Mildura
- Mallee District Aboriginal Services, 120 Madden Avenue, Mildura
- One Health Buronga, 1/5 Short Street, Buronga
- Ontario Family Practice, 202 Ontario Avenue, Mildura
- Ontario Medical Clinic, 196 Ontario Avenue, Mildura
- Onyx Medical Clinic, 186 Thirteenth Street, Mildura
- Sunraysia Medical Centre, 49 Indi Avenue, Red Cliffs
- Tristar Medical Group, 1/87-89 Langtree Avenue, Mildura
To find the closest COVID-19 vaccination clinic, complete the Vaccine Eligibility Checker at covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility and call to make an appointment, or the Victorian coronavirus hotline, 1800 675 398.
SCHS COVID-19 support hotline: 5021 7653