Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Health
Tasmanians living in rural and regional parts of the State will have access to free flu shots over the next two weeks, with clinics set to pop up across the State.
This week pop-up clinics will be visiting Dunalley, Port Arthur, Penguin, Boat Harbour, Nubeena, Dodges Ferry, Stanley and Smithton, before visiting more than 20 further locations the following week.
The state-run clinics will be set up at neighbourhood houses, community houses, town halls, sport clubs and other community spaces for several hours at a time to give locals an opportunity to get the flu vaccine.
Anyone aged five years and above can turn up on the day and get vaccinated for free – no appointment required.
The rural and regional clinics are part of our plan to maximise the number of people who get the flu vaccine this year and minimise the impact on the Tasmanian community.
GPs and pharmacies are the primary provider of flu vaccines, but this flu season we are supporting the primary care sector to expand access further, including these areas without access to vaccination providers.
With flu set to return to the State after two years of very few cases, we want to make sure no one misses out on the chance to get the vaccine and protect themselves from the potentially severe effects of flu.
The vaccine also reduces the chance of catching and spreading the flu, which means recipients may protect their loved ones and the wider Tasmanian community.
Pleasingly, more than 67,000 people have already rolled up their sleeves and come forward for a flu vaccine in the first month of the rollout, with more than half of those over the age of 65.
We encourage vulnerable Tasmanians who are eligible for a flu vaccine through the National Immunisation Program to get vaccinated through their GP or pharmacy. This includes young children aged two and under, who have never lived through a flu season or gained any immunity to the virus.
Importantly, there is no interval required between COVID-19 and flu vaccines, meaning you can get both at the same time through your GP or pharmacy.
