By Alesha Capone
An outreach COVID-19 vaccination program aimed at culturally diverse residents of the west has seen more than 600 people inoculated in under a month.
The service, which is being delivered by Western Health in collaboration with Wyndham council, began in September with a vaccine session at the Virgin Mary Mosque in Hoppers Crossing.
Operations manager of the west metro COVID-19 Vaccination Program, Suzie Ristevski, said her team has been working directly with communities to deliver vaccinations to people who cannot otherwise access a Western Health vaccination hub.
“The outreach service operates as a flexible model, which may involve temporary site set up in a vaccination space or a mobile service,” she said.
“We have been working collaboratively with Wyndham city council to identify and accommodate culturally diverse groups in the community that would not otherwise proactively present for vaccination.”
Ms Ristevski said Western Health has also engaged with cultural and religious leaders.
A total of 150 people were vaccinated at the Virgin Mary Mosque event last month, while 110 members of the Somali community were vaccinated at the Tarneit Soccer Club on another day.
She said the outreach service, which has also been visiting schools, has been well received by local councils and community groups.
“We are absolutely thrilled that we can offer this service to such a broad range of culturally diverse backgrounds across municipalities across the western region of Melbourne and provide many of them with access to the COVID-19 vaccine,” Ms Ristevski said.
“The services had also closed a significant gap in vaccination uptake numbers within the community and has received overwhelming positive feedback from vaccine recipients and regarding the convenience of access to COVID-19 vaccination.
“The outreach services complement the already terrific, high-standard vaccination service provided by Western Health in our vaccination hubs in Sunshine, Melbourne Showgrounds, Melton and Eagle Stadium at Wyndham.”
Wyndham mayor Adele Hegedich said the council was proud of its residents, with more than 94 per cent of community members aged 15 and above having undergone at least one COVID vaccine.
“I am so proud of our community and the role it is playing keeping everyone safe,” Cr Hegedich said.
