COVID-19 vaccine roll-out update
Sunrise Health has been leading the way when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out.
We have been doing COVID-19 vaccinations since early June 2021 when we first received limited Pfizer doses, but over the next 8 weeks we will be accelerating the vaccine rollout in partnership with the Australian Government, Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and NACCHO (the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation). As part of this, we are one of the first places to secure the services of the RFDS to assist in the rollout. The RFDS visits will commence on 23 August and provide vaccines and three additional staff for our three largest communities (Ngukurr, Minyerri and Wugularr).
Sunrise Health is all about community control. The community-based directors of Sunrise Health are leading the vaccination roll-out and have been instrumental in addressing issues of vaccine hesitancy in our communities through meetings and ongoing advocacy. Each Sunrise Health community varies, but our communities have already achieved between 4% and 38% of eligible adults receiving their first dose of the vaccine. The RFDS visits will see the vaccination rates increase quickly.
For those communities that are not part of the RFDS visits, Sunrise Health staff and directors will continue to deliver regular vaccination sessions using the vaccines that we receive from the national COVID Vaccination Administration System (CVAS) every 2 weeks.
Our community and Katherine based staff (in particular our senior Registered Aboriginal Health Practitioners (RAHPs) and our Health Promotion community based workers) are working hard to prepare our communities for the roll-out with information and education to assist with the consent process and help with making appointments for vaccinations.
We are looking forward to significant coverage of our communities by the end of the RFDS visits in early October and to keeping everyone safe.
Protect you, your family and community—come to a Sunrise Health clinic and put your name on the list to receive your vaccination.
Sunrise Health
10 August 2021
Sunrise Chairperson, Anne Marie Lee receives her COVID-19 vaccination. “I encourage all members of our community to get their vaccination to protect our people. It is safe and doesn’t hurt.’