By Oliver Lees
Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health (SCCH) is continuing to support vulnerable residents to get vaccinated and stay safe while high rates of COVID-19 remain present in the community.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, SCCH has continuously updated its messaging to provide public health information to those most in-need.
SCCH community connections manager Carly Visscher said providing detail on how residents can access vaccination clinics, rapid antigen tests (RATs) and other services, was particularly important.
“Our focus has been on encouraging people to get vaccinated and sharing information around accessibility, especially those in our community that are more at risk due to age or underlying health condition,” Ms Visscher said.
“There are various supports in place to assist people to access RATs from their NDIS funding or via the Commonwealth supplies as concession card holders.“
The messaging comes as Hume council has registered one of the lowest third dose vaccination rates in the state.
According to data from February 8, 33 per cent of eligible residents in Hume had received a booster jab.
That figure is almost half the rate of the Macedon Ranges (60.7 per cent).
On February 9, a Hume council spokesperson said 183,745 of Hume’s aged 16 and over is eligible for a booster dose, and a further 25,600 residents aged 6 to 11 are eligible for their first two jabs.
While two doses can minimise your risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19, topping the two with an additional booster can significantly reduce the chances of contracting the Omicron variant of COVID-19,” the spokesperson said.
“For those who have contracted COVID-19 recently, it is the recommendation from the Chief Health Officer that you receive your third or paediatric dose as soon as you have recovered from COVID-19.
“Once all symptoms have ceased, please book in or visit one of the walk-up clinics
across Hume to receive your next vaccination.”
