Western Australia’s Get the needle now message has kick-started a six-week campaign to Keep Culture Safe and Strong with the State’s borders now open.
Vaccine Commander and Deputy Police Commissioner for the Western Australia Police Force, Gary Dreibergs visited Yagan Square to raise awareness of the importance of being fully vaccinated.
“Now is the time to step up to protect yourself, your family and your community to keep your culture safe and strong” Deputy Police Commissioner Dreibergs said.
He said more than 50 metropolitan vaccinators and support staff, working a fly-in, fly-out style roster, would be deployed into the Kimberley, Pilbara, Midwest and Goldfields regions over the next six weeks.
“The vaccine is free and available from community clinics, Aboriginal medical services, GPs and chemists across the regions,” DPC Dreibergs said.
“WA Country Heath Service (WACHS) staff already based in the regions will concentrate efforts in the areas they know best,” he said.
“WACHS teams will travel to communities and engage at the grass-roots level, yarning with community members face to face, and providing vaccinations in homes and at community events.
“Increasing vaccination rates among vulnerable communities is of the utmost importance and is a key area of focus for the WA COVID-19 Vaccine Program.”
DPC Dreibergs said the Keeping Culture Safe and Strong – Get the needle now campaign aimed to ensure Aboriginal people and communities were protected.
“Stakeholders including health, police, shires and Aboriginal-led organisations will yarn with community members to assist with access to vaccinations,” he said.
“In addition, the Maxi-Vaxi bus and other mobile units will increase options in the regions, providing flexible, culturally appropriate vaccination opportunities as they travel around,” the Deputy Police Commissioner said.
