The Department of Health has partnered with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to remote Australian communities.
Minister for Regional Health, Mark Coulton said the significant national partnership meant remote communities could be confident in their ability to access vaccination.
“From the outset of this pandemic, the RFDS has provided retrievals, evacuations, swab transfers, and fly-in GP respiratory clinics, protecting the lives of people living and working in the most remote corners of the country,” Mr Coulton said.
“Government is continuing this pandemic partnership with RFDS, engaging the 93-year-old service to delivery vaccines in remote communities,” he said.
“Nobody knows remote communities like the RFDS and it makes sense for the Government to utilise their capacity and knowledge to ensure all Australians are protected against this global pandemic.”
Mr Coulton said the latest lockdown in Victoria demonstrated the importance for all Australians to be vaccinated.
“Australia’s success in minimising the impact of coronavirus should be a source of pride for us all but mustn’t make for complacency,” he said.
“Vaccination is the key to a strong future and particularly important for remote communities, where we know chronic diseases are increased and access to health care is less.”
He said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were at a high risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19 and the partnership with RFDS meant they could stay in community and still get vaccinated.
Mr Coulton said planning and development was underway for communities in remote Australia to receive their vaccinations following successful vaccine administration by RFDS in Eucla, WA.
