The Victorian Government is boosting vaccination rates in Local Government Areas with lower coverage by hosting mini pop-up clinics and removing remaining barriers to access, in the final stretch of the vaccination program.
As part of the push, 30 vaccination centres across Victoria will open to walk-up Pfizer appointments with no booking required - and nine pop-up clinics will launch with youth mental health organisation Headspace.
Headspace will host the pop-ups at clinics this week in Collingwood and Frankston, Greensborough and Glenroy and Sunshine next week.
Locations have been selected based on analysis of LGAs where vaccination rates are lower, particularly among young people. While rates in Melbourne's west and north-west have improved, work is underway to help lift them in the northern suburbs - where 10,000 doses are needed to bring the local first dose rate to 85 per cent.
Another 2,000 first doses in Frankston and Dandenong will also take these postcodes over 85 per cent. Dandenong's Palm Plaza - Victoria's biggest pop-up site - is still delivering up to 500 vaccinations a day.
In regional Victoria, the average first dose rate is 94 per cent - but health officials have identified postcodes where more progress is possible, including Cann River, Ensay, Sebastopol, Brim, Mildura, Seymour, Halls Gap, Myrtleford, Omeo, and Longford.
Victoria is continuing its partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which will visit remote areas including Buchan, Ensay, Gelantipy, Kaniva and the Cann Valley over the coming days.
The second round of Victoria's successful Vaccination Enhancement Grants have also been awarded, with 35 general practices and pharmacies in regional areas sharing in $132,000 to boost local vaccination access.
Vaccinations are continuing through Victoria's mini pop-up neighbourhood vaccination program, which is bringing small vaccination clinics to cafes, gyms, clubs and shopping strips across Melbourne's suburbs.
A mini pop-up held this week at North Fitzroy's Moroccan Soup Bar attracted more than 50 locals and women from diverse backgrounds. Another 53 vaccinations were administered at the Victorian Pride Centre and Queerspace on Drummond St as part of Rainbow Week, and 17 pop-ups will run at Victorian schools between 22 and 24 October.
Victorians can book a vaccine at a state-run centre by visiting www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine or calling 1800 675 398, or through their local GP or pharmacist by visiting www.covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility.
To see a list of the 30 state-run vaccination centres which are now open for walk-in Pfizer appointments with no booking required, visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres
As stated by Minister for Health Martin Foley
"Whether it's vaccinations in local suburbs, restaurants, schools, community facilities - or even through the Royal Flying Doctor Service - absolutely nothing is off the table in our final push for more jabs in more arms."
As stated by Minister for Mental Health James Merlino
"If you've been putting it off, now's the time to join the millions of Victorians fighting to get things back to normal. The vaccine is safe, effective and free - and it's your ticket to everything you love and miss."
