The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) is excited to announce the launch of two dedicated ACCHO COVID-19 Vaccine Vans, set to visit the City of Greater Shepparton and Latrobe Valley from next week.
The vaccine vans will play a crucial role in helping make the COVID-19 vaccine available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members who have had difficulties accessing the vaccine.
VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher said the vans will help assist our Member organisations in their work to protect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community across Victoria against COVID-19.
“Building on the hard work of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations across the state – the vans will boost support of COVID-19 vaccine delivery to community members during regional residencies across Victoria over the coming weeks and months.”
“VACCHO and our Member organisations understand that getting access to the vaccine has also been a hurdle for some members of our community – and we believe the rollout of dedicated vaccine vans will play an important part in taking the vaccine to community members who have struggled to gain access.”
“The vaccination vans aim to remove barriers to accessing COVID-19 vaccinations, such as geographical distance and access to transport, so that all members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community can get vaccine access to protect them against COVID-19.”
With record-high COVID-19 case numbers being recorded across Victoria this week, VACCHO believes the dedicated vans will play an important role in improving vaccination rates of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community across the country.
“Recent outbreaks across Victoria combined with plans to reopen the state means that there is an urgent need for our community to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”
“We must be mindful of the fact that risk factors for COVID-19 are disproportionately higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to a combination of factors including pre-existing health concerns, pressing mental health and wellbeing issues, and people living in overcrowded or transient accommodation.”
Information on regional vaccine van visits schedule will become available on the VACCHO website and Facebook page.
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