SA Health is to launch a fleet of mobile vaccination vans to make COVID-19 vaccines more accessible to more South Australians.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade said 10 decommissioned ambulance vehicles were being recommissioned to support the mobilisation of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, with the first three to hit roads across the State.
“The addition of this fleet of mobile vaccination vans strengthens our outreach to reach pockets of the community with lower vaccination rates,” Mr Wade said.
“It is not only critical that we drive up Statewide vaccination rates, but that we ensure strong vaccination rates across geographical and cultural cohorts across the State,” he said.
Director of Nursing (Operations) for the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network and COVID-19 Programs Lead with SA Health, Andrew McGill said the vaccine vans would be purpose-fitted to support mobile COVID-19 vaccination teams.
“(They) will be able to drive into harder-to-reach communities and cohorts, making it easier for people to get vaccinated, especially those who are more vulnerable to the effects of virus,” Mr McGill said.
COVID-19 Incident Commander for the SA Ambulance Service (SAAS), Chris Howie said the decommissioned fleet would be used by both metropolitan and regional Local Health Networks.
“They each will be fitted with fridges and storage cabinets, with capacity to carry up to 100 doses of the vaccine at a time,” Mr Howie said.
“Mobile services have been a great solution throughout the pandemic to support the work of protecting our community,” he said.
“Decommissioned ambulances staffed by SAAS clinicians have been successfully used to support pop-up testing clinics, and to deliver vaccines to the homeless as part of the community outreach program,” Mr Howie said.
Further information and bookings can be accessed at this PS News link.
