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SWH Vaccination Centre on its way

  • COVID
Friday, 26 Feb 2021

In readiness for the COVID-vaccinating of thousands of local people, we’ve today briefed the media on our plans to establish a vaccination centre.

Warrnambool’s former Sam’s Warehouse at 184 Merri Street is the location of this significant undertaking.

Approximately 40,000 local people are expected to pass through the SWH Vaccination Centre over the next 6-12 months.

SWH CEO Craig Fraser says an enormous amount of work has been going on behind the scenes as the region’s largest health service prepares itself for the biggest immunisation initiative in history.

A recruitment campaign is underway for doctors, nursing staff and administration staff, and options are being explored for a suitable immunisation site at Camperdown.

The timing of when the vaccinations will commence is subject to the supply of the vaccines through the Barwon Health-coordinated regional vaccination hub. At this stage it’s anticipated frontline SWH staff most at risk of exposure and all 23 Merindah Lodge residents will be offered the opportunity to have the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine administered onsite at our Warrnambool Base Hospital, Camperdown Hospital and Merindah Lodge in the next 3-4 weeks. All remaining SWH staff and the local community will be offered the opportunity to have, most likely, the AstraZeneca vaccine administered onsite at our SWH Vaccination Centre.

Both the Pfizer vaccine and the AstraZeneca vaccine have received approval for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Trained immunisation staff will administer both.

PHOTO: The staff who participated in today’s media conference: COVID Coordinator Sue Anderton (from left), COVID Infection Prevention Community Response Consultant Jenny Lukeis, Director of Infection Prevention Dr Mark Page and CEO Craig Fraser.

Page last updated: 18 March 2021

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