March 23, 2021
The Priority 1A COVID-19 vaccination rollout is due to start in the South Burnett next week with the opening of a clinic at Kingaroy Hospital.
Priority 1A includes frontline health care workers and other people at higher risk of contracting the disease such as QAS responders and pathology staff.
Darling Downs Health started rolling out vaccinations to its Priority 1a groups recently with the opening of clinics at the Warwick, Toowoomba and Baillie Henderson hospitals.
It will open an invitation-only clinic at Kingaroy Hospital next week.
Spokesperson Annette Scott said vaccinations at Kingaroy Hospital would continue to be prioritised in alignment with the Federal Government’s priority group roadmap.
“The South Burnett community will receive the vaccine as part of the rollout strategy with the first to receive the vaccine being those people who are at greatest risk of exposure, and those most vulnerable to COVID-19,” she said.
Priority 1B vaccinations – the second group listed on the rollout roadmap – began at two GP clinics in the South Burnett on Monday.
Darling Downs Health will notify the community when vaccinations at the new Kingaroy Hospital clinic can be offered to this wider Priority 1B category.
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The Priority 1A category also includes staff and residents at residential care facilities but the rollout of vaccinations to these locations is being handled by the Federal Department of Health, not Queensland Health.
southburnett.com.au submitted a request to the Federal Health Department seeking information about when vaccinations are likely to start in local residential care facilities.
A Department of Health spokesperson said scheduling of those residential aged care facilities was under way to deliver doses as safely and efficiently as possible for residents and staff.
“As at March 22, over 62,260 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in 634 residential aged care and disability accommodation facilities across Australia. Of those 634 facilities, 110 have received a second COVID-19 vaccine dose,” the spokesperson said.
“Over 12,700 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in 122 residential aged care and disability accommodation facilities in Queensland as at March 22.
“Both the State and Territory teams alongside the aged care in-reach teams are ramping up their operations, with more vaccines being distributed across the country this week.
“The Department of Health, through the Vaccine Operations Centre, is working hard to ensure information is being communicated quickly, and that any changes are kept to an absolute minimum.”
- External link: Vaccine Eligibility Checker
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