The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) is frustrated by inaccuracies in vaccination numbers for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Victoria.
Errors in vaccine data collection managed by the Commonwealth Government, has led to an overrepresentation of the vaccine numbers of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Victoria.
VACCHO understands Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) vaccine data inaccuracies have now been corrected – resulting in a change in the overall vaccination rates across the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Victoria.
VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher AO acknowledges the amended rates and believes accurate data will play a crucial role in helping refocus our efforts to get Community vaccinated.
“It’s great to see a rapid acceleration of vaccination rates amongst the broader population in Victoria, however Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rates do not appear to be experiencing the same growth.”
“With plans to reopen the state in the coming weeks, we need to ensure that the vaccine rates in our Communities are on par with the rest of the population of Victoria.”
VACCHO is calling on all levels of government to provide additional resources so that we can get our community informed and vaccinated.
“This is a call to action to all forms of government to not leave the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Victoria behind.”
Accuracy in vaccine data is crucial in informing decisions VACCHO, as the peak body for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations across Victoria, makes in ensuring our community stays safe against COVID.
“There are still many members of our community who are eligible to be vaccinated. We have to keep looking out for each other. We must continue to look after our families and our elders.”
Vaccine data clarity confirms there is a lot of work to be done in the coming months to ensure our community gets vaccinated, and further iterates the importance of continuing COVID-safe practices, getting tested if you have symptoms, and talking to your GP should you have any questions or concerns.
“Our ACCHOs and frontline health staff continue to work hard in protecting our community and it is a timely reminder that we persist to stay safe and strong during these challenging times.”
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For media inquiries contact Michael Lynch on 0427 760 936
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BACKGROUND
VACCHO is the peak body for Aboriginal health and wellbeing in Victoria – the only one of its kind – with 32 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations as Members. VACCHO Members support over 25,000 Aboriginal people in Victoria, and combined are the largest employers of Aboriginal people in the state.
