The ADF and NSW Health was back in town this week for three days for the second round of the pop-up clinic for Pfizer vaccinations. People said the process was quick and ran very smoothly.
Parkes is one of seven local government areas in the NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) with first dose rates for COV-ID-19 vaccinations of over 80%, while the Central West is ahead of the whole country with its vaccination rates.
Four weeks ago in the week ending 8th August Parkes had a first dose percentage of 36 and second dose of 14.3%. On 9th September the figures for Parkes were 81.9% for first dose and 34.3% for second dose.
Overall vaccination rates in the WNSWL-HD are among the most-improved in NSW across the last four weeks. Scott McLachlan, WNSWLHD Chief Executive, said he would love to see the district reach the highest vaccination rate in all of Australia.
“I’m really proud of our communities. They’ve heard the message that vaccination is the best way to tackle COVID-19 and they’ve stepped up.
“We’ve seen the first-dose rate of COVID-19 vaccinations go from 17% to 56% for Aboriginal people and from 41% to 82% for non-Aboriginal people.
“The second-dose rate for Aboriginal people has gone from around 7% to almost 22%, and from 20% to more than 41% for non-Aboriginal people.
The seven local government areas in the district with first dose rates over 80% are Weddin, Orange, Dubbo, Coonamble, Narromine, Mid-Western and Parkes.
Coonamble has the highest second-dose rate at almost 50%. Orange, Weddin, Gilgandra, Walgett, Brewarrina, Cowra, Lachlan, Bourke and Forbes are all above 40%.
“I can’t stress this enough though – we can’t afford to think we’ve done enough.” Scott said 80% double dose meant there would still be 40,000 people unvaccinated and very vulnerable to the virus.
“Keep encouraging people to get vaccinated and make sure you come back for your second dose, it’s only after both doses that you get the maximum protection.
“Still get tested if you have any symptoms or concerns. Keep following the stay-at-home orders, practice good hand hygiene and social distancing and use the available QR codes.”
Stay-at-home orders for adults who have received both doses will be lifted from the Monday after NSW passes the 70% double vaccination target, expected to be reached in four to five weeks.