A working group charged with advising the Government on issues related to administering the COVID-19 vaccine to rural and Indigenous Australians, has begun its work as the rollout continues towards Phase 1B and beyond.
The Remote Vaccine Working Group is made up of the Department of Health, the National Indigenous Australians Agency as well as State and Territory Agencies.
Minster for Regional Health, Mark Coulton said the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to every corner of the country was complex which was why the Commonwealth had a plan and was listening to expert advice from rural health stakeholders.
“COVID-19 case numbers in rural and remote areas have been low, but the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine into regional, rural and remote communities is a vital part of the Government’s vaccine strategy to ensure everyone in Australia is protected,” Mr Coulton said.
He said the Working Group drew on expertise from health representatives, many of whom had also participated in Rural and Remote Health Roundtable during the pandemic.
“The leadership and expertise of these professionals provide important voices to the Working Group to ensure the rollout is done in genuine partnership and enables all rural Australians to be vaccinated close to where they live,” Mr Coulton said.
“We commend the efforts of our doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and allied health workers in rural and remote areas,” he said.
“We genuinely appreciate the ongoing leadership of the rural health sector, and we are in this enviable position because of the care and advice this sector has provided us over the past year.”
The Minister said the rural health workforce and representative bodies had been integral in managing the challenges of the pandemic.
