Page 2569 - Week 09 - Thursday, 16 September 2021
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Garran Surge Centre is no longer operating as a mass vaccination hub and has reverted to being a COVID-19 testing facility. I am also pleased to report that the capacity of the Access and Sensory COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic has increased to five days a week, following its relocation to the Weston Creek Community Health Centre on 13 September.
The ACT government COVID-19 vaccination clinics are administering vaccinations to identified priority groups, in line with the national rollout strategy. Recently, year 12 students and their exam facilitators were given priority access to Pfizer vaccination appointments at the AIS clinic so that they can be vaccinated before they attend their formative exams in term 4. All educators, teachers and staff who work directly with children and young people at ACT schools and childcare centres are also now eligible for priority appointments at our government-run clinics.
In line with the National Cabinet decision, from 17 September all residential aged care workers must have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose to enter their place of work. The commonwealth-led program for vaccinations in residential aged care facilities is being closely monitored by ACT Health. We encourage aged care workers to come forward for COVID-19 vaccination, and since early June ACT Health has offered all unvaccinated aged care staff access to priority vaccination appointments.
I am pleased to say that as at 15 September more than 97 per cent of aged care staff in the ACT had received their first dose, and 74 per cent are now fully vaccinated. ACT Health is continuing to work with the commonwealth Department of Health, Capital Health Network and the aged care sector to assist staff to receive vaccinations through fast-tracked appointments at ACT government clinics and primary care.
Under the national rollout, people who are pregnant are also a priority to receive a Pfizer vaccine, and there is a dedicated option on the ACT government COVID-19 vaccination booking line for them. On 1 September, eligibility for vaccination in the ACT clinics was opened up for people aged 16 to 29 years. On this single day, more than 14,000 bookings were made. Many of this cohort, more than 30,000, had registered their interest in anticipation of the expanded eligibility and were able to streamline their booking. More recently, I announced on Monday that young people aged 12 to 15 will be able to make a booking for a Pfizer vaccination from Monday, 20 September.
I thank all Canberrans who have already stepped up to receive a COVID-19 vaccination and I encourage all Canberrans to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible.
The ACT entered lockdown on 12 August, as I have said, due to the identification of a positive case of COVID-19 with no known source of transmission and positive wastewater detections reported at the same time. The individual had been infectious in the community and had visited a number of public locations. A number of clusters have since been identified, with transmission linked to several education facilities, early learning centres, nightclubs and bars, social housing sites and retail businesses.
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