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TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021
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PropertyGuide GippslandTimes
Vaccine roll-out plan Liz Bell
Vandals target Maffra street
LOCAL doctors are urging Gippsland communities to embrace the COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer, which will be rolled out across Australia within six weeks. Sale GP-anaesthetist and Rural Doctors Association of Victoria president, Rob Phair, said the federal government’s announcement that the Pfizer vaccine would be rolled out across Australia earlier than expected was encouraging. In a welcome move, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday that the first people to be given the voluntary vaccination would now be able to get the jab as early as the middle of February, instead of March. The first round of the Pfizer vaccine will be available at 30 to 50 hospital sites, or “hubs”, in metropolitan and regional areas, however a spokesperson for Central Gippsland Health in Sale said it was still unclear which health facilities would receive it. Dr Phair said rural doctors were “following the discussion carefully” as the finer points of the rollout were worked out. “We really want communities to embrace the vaccine when it gets to us, and make sure that the most vulnerable (that is, our older residents, or those with medical conditions) are happy to take it,” he said. “We’re confident that the vaccines will give our communities very good protection.” Dr Phair said while the virus had not affected Gippsland residents to the same extent as other metropolitan locations, the past year and COVID “vigilance” had put Gippsland health care workers under stress, particularly nurses. The hub locations, which will be determined by the states and territories in partnership with the federal government, will remain as distribution sites for outreach teams to deliver vaccines to the initial priority population. Some larger GP-led respiratory clinics, general practices, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations that can house the vaccine at minus 70 degrees Celsius are likely to be next to receive the Pfizer vaccine under the five-phase
McMillan St, Maffra, pensioners Sue and Noel Bedggood, who take pride in their home and yard, are dismayed their front fence was targeted by vandals overnight Saturday. They were not the only ones in the street to be targeted. Full story, page 7.
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