News

MTHCS Aged Care vaccination on schedule

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 11:15:00

Roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination was expected to be completed this week at Mallee Track Health and Community Service (MTHCS) residential aged care facilities.

MTHCS Chief Executive Officer Lois O’Callaghan said 50 residents at Pattinson House Hostel and the Nursing Home and 14 residents at Kaleesa Nursing Home in Sea Lake were scheduled for vaccination on Tuesday.
In a co-operative effort, MTHCS trained vaccinators were supported by Swan Hill District Health (SHDH) and Bendigo Health.
General community members, who are eligible for this round, can also now make their own appointments to receive the vaccinations at the SHDH Respiratory Clinic. There are two doses required 12 weeks apart.
Ms O’Callaghan and Medical Clinics Practice Manger Shirley Vallance met with SHDH Chief Executive Officer Peter Abraham in Sea Lake last week to finalise logistics for the start of the roll-out in the Mallee Track catchment.
“The first step is to do the online Eligibility Checker. There are some easy assessment questions and if you are eligible for the priority round, you can go to the Swan Hill Respiratory Clinic site, see what appointments are available and book a spot online.
The Eligibility Checker can be accessed at https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility
“This will make it much easier for anyone across the catchment to get the vaccine in Swan Hill or at any other service participating in the Phase 1b vaccination program.
“It’s important to remember that there will be ongoing vaccinations for other groups, but this Phase 1B rollout is for people who are working in Emergency services, high risk industry workers, such as meat works, people aged over 70, anyone with an existing chronic health condition, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents over the age of 55,” Ms O’Callaghan explained. Additionally, a Phase 1a vaccination program is planned for frontline healthcare staff and staff of aged care services.
The roll-out began on March 22nd and MTHCS is well-prepared with three vaccinators, three Registered Nurses to assist and three administration staff trained for the roll-out.
MTHCS Medical Clinics are waiting to receive vaccines, but a short delay is likely.
Ms O’Callaghan said the partnership was a great example of the ways MTHCS was working closely with neighbouring health services to ensure local residents could promptly access the vaccination program.