Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Health
The Royal Flying Doctor Service bus is getting back on the road to vaccinate 5–11-year-olds in the West Coast this week.
Following the invaluable partnership providing primary doses for teenagers and adults across Tasmanian's most rural and regional areas, I'm extremely pleased that the Department of Health and the RFDS will once again join forces to ensure that children in the West Coast have access to a COVID vaccine ahead of the school year.
The mobile clinics will be held in four different locations on the West Coast from this Tuesday, February 1, through to Friday, February 4, and we're encouraging parents to book now so their children aged 5-11 years can get their first dose of vaccine before school goes back.
This partnership has played a pivotal role in achieving some of the highest vaccination rates in not only the country but in the world and I thank the RFDS for its ongoing support of Tasmania's vaccination program, particularly in accessing small and remote communities across the state.
We appreciate some parents may prefer to have their children vaccinated at their family doctor, so my thanks also go to the many GPs in our regional areas who have made such a valuable contribution to the vaccine rollout.
Nearly 46 per cent of Tasmania's children aged 5-11 have already received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine – significantly higher than the national average.
I can't emphasis enough that vaccination remains one of the most important protections against serious illness from COVID. So, if you live on the West Coast and are yet to book your children in, now is the time to do so.
The RFDS bus will be at the following locations:
- Strahan – Strahan Primary School;
- Tuesday February 1 from 8.30am-3.30pm
- Queenstown – West Coast Community Services Hub;
- Wednesday February 2 – 8.30am-3.30pm
- Thursday February 3 – 8.30am-11.30am
- Zeehan – Zeehan Primary School;
- Thursday February 3 – 1pm-3.30pm
- Rosebery – Rosebery Neighbourhood House;
- Friday February 4 – 8.30am-3.30pm
To book the special paediatric dose of Pfizer vaccine at one of the RFDS mobile clinics please go to www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
You can also check with your local GP make an appointment with them directly.
