As at Tuesday 21 September 2021, 42% of Mount Gambier residents are fully vaccinated against COVID, well below the 80% State Government target. City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin and Councillors Sonya Mezinec, Paul Jenner, Max Bruins and Christian Greco encourage local residents to make an informed decision regarding COVID vaccinations.
Mayor Martin said Mount Gambier and the wider community had played an important role in managing the COVID pandemic in South Australia.
"While we are fortunate to have been COVID safe throughout the pandemic, the threat of COVID has presented many challenges that our community continues to face," Mayor Martin said.
"There have been lockdowns and activity restrictions put in place and we are all getting used to wearing masks and following social distancing regulations."
"South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has indicated that COVID restrictions will be relaxed when there is equity in vaccination rates across local government areas as the State Government is still determining the minimum vaccination rate before restrictions ease."
I think it would be a wonderful achievement for our community if we could reach an 80% vaccination rate as soon as possible and be the leading Local Government area in South Australia. - Mayor Lynette Martin.
The Mayor is booked in for her second AstraZeneca vaccination next month and believes that vaccination should be a considered personal decision made by community members to help protect each other.
"I personally got vaccinated to protect my community so that business and industry remains open, people remain employed and we keep our economy strong," Mayor Martin said.
"I also want to protect my family and friends and I want to see people reunited and being able to come together and celebrate important occasions. I also want to be able to travel freely to Perth to visit my family, I think vaccination is key to that at this point."
Councillor Sonya Mezinec received her second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the past few weeks.
