Queensland Health is urging people to line up for their COVID-19 vaccinations before the summer floods and cyclones forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology arrive.
Minister for Health, Yvette D’Ath said health experts were concerned about the ramifications of severe weather on the vaccination rollout due to the increased likelihood of a La Niña development in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
“We all know that Queensland is prone to floods and cyclones each year, which often means widespread damage, interruption to services and road closures — and often our Northern and Central Queensland communities are the worst affected,” Ms D’Ath said.
“Right now, we are offering as many vaccination clinics as we can in rural and remote communities, but there may come a time this summer when it’s not safe or possible to get our vaccination teams into certain communities due to severe weather or natural disasters,” she said.
Ms D’Ath said there was absolutely no reason to delay vaccinations as “COVID-19 will come to our regional communities; it’s just a matter of time”.
“Head along to your nearest vaccination clinic, or if your community is serviced by a vaccination outreach clinic, please make it a priority to get vaccinated when it is next in your community,” she said.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Craig Crawford said it was also important to remember that natural disasters might mean evacuations.
“While all evacuation centres will operate under COVID-Safe Plans, the best way to protect you and your family against COVID-19 is to be vaccinated,” Mr Crawford said.
“Remember, you need at least three weeks between each vaccination dose and then another two weeks for the vaccine to offer maximum protection,” he said.
