BARKER residents are being encouraged to arm themselves as part of a new strategy to promote COVID-19 vaccinations.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the vaccine was the best way residents can protect themselves, their loved ones, the people they care about and the wider community.
Mr Pasin said the new campaign features a variety of people with a band-aid on their arm, representing being vaccinated.
He said the strategy was designed to evolve in line with the vaccination program.
“This is now happening with increased supply of vaccines, particularly the Pfizer vaccine,” Mr Pasin said.
“More than 9.3 million vaccinations have now been administered.
“Importantly those most at risk are increasingly being protected with three quarters of those over the age of 70 having received a vaccine”.
“Barker residents who have armed themselves with the vaccine know they are protecting themselves and our community and I thank them for that and encourage others to now make their vaccination booking.”
Mr Pasin encouraged individuals who had yet to be vaccinated to make a booking through the Australia.gov.au eligibility checker and finder service.
Australia’s will bring forward Pfizer doses to around 1 million per week from July 19 – an increase from an average of 300,000 to 350,000 per week in May and June.
Pfizer supplies will increase from 2.8 million doses for July to 4.5 million doses for August 2021.
The government said the increase will allow greater access for Australians through state and territory vaccination clinics, Commonwealth vaccination clinics and 1300 primary care vaccination sites.
Meanwhile, the State Government continues to roll out its vaccination program for regional South Australians aged between 16 and 60 years.
According to the online booking system, the next available appointment for first dose of COVID-19 at the Mount Gambier COVID-19 vaccination clinic located at the Mount Gambier Central Shopping Centre is on October 5.
Bookings are available at the Naracoorte Health Service on August 23, Kingston on August 19 and Millicent on September 2.
Penola – which offers the AstraZeneca vaccine – has availability in August, while the Bordertown Memorial Hospital is not accepting online bookings for new patients.
