The Department of Health has ramped up its COVID-19 vaccination program across regional Victoria with the launch of hospital vaccination hubs in Bendigo and Ballarat.
Minister for Health, Martin Foley said there were now six hospital vaccination hubs operating across Melbourne and regional Victoria, with the remaining hubs to come online shortly.
Mr Foley said the first workers to be vaccinated were those most likely to be exposed to COVID-19.
“The first to be vaccinated include Hotel Quarantine and Health Hotel workers, airport and port workers, and frontline health staff in COVID-19 screening clinics, specialist COVID-19 wards, Intensive Care Units and Emergency Departments,” Mr Foley said.
“Hubs also deliver the vaccine to public sector residential aged care residents and workers, with the Commonwealth responsible for providing the vaccine to private residential aged care and disability care facilities,” he said.
Mr Foley said the Bendigo Health and Ballarat Health Services would focus on public sector residential aged care residents throughout this week (from 1 March).
The Minister said hospital vaccination hubs managed by Albury Wodonga Health, Goulburn Valley Health and Latrobe Regional Hospital would begin delivering the vaccine from next week (8 March).
“It’s anticipated that over 40,000 doses will be delivered over the first four weeks of the program in Victoria,” he said.
