It was “history in the making” as two health workers became the first Sunshine Coast residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
Ten days after the State’s first vaccinations were administered on the Gold Coast, the rollout spotlight moved to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH).
Emergency Department Registered Nurse, Sasha Ritchie, and operational staff member Ian Davidson, who cleans the COVID Ward, were the first safeguarded with the vaccine early Thursday morning.
About 100 people a day will be vaccinated at SCUH and they will be prioritised under the Federal Government’s Phase 1a guidelines.
At the top of the queue are frontline staff in facilities or services, such as hospital Emergency Departments, COVID-19 and respiratory wards, Intensive Care Units and High-dependency Units, as well as paramedics and laboratory staff who handle potentially-infectious material.
Also in the 1a category are aged care and disability care residents and staff and allied health professionals who work in these sectors.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D’Ath, said the commencement of the rollout on the Sunshine Coast was another momentous occasion for the state.
“We expect 115,000 Queenslanders will receive the vaccine in the very first phase of the vaccine’s rollout, prioritising those who are the most at risk of exposure to the virus,” Ms D’Ath said.
“Our vaccine journey is just beginning but when we are all in this together, we can reach our destination much faster and I want to thank staff at SCUH for putting their hand up and setting a fantastic example for the rest of our community.”
Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive, Adjunct Professor Naomi Dwyer, said it was a privilege to follow suit in the state’s largest coordinated vaccination effort.
“This is history in the making and to be part of the first phase of rollout is very special,” Adj Prof Dywer said.
“We’ve got our processes and systems ready for this vaccine, and our staff are lining up and keen for the jab.”
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said protecting those at most risk of exposure to the virus meant we were also helping to protect the community.
“We want to have the best possible protection from COVID-19,” Dr Young (pictured) said.
“So when you get the vaccine, it means your symptoms will be less severe compared to someone who isn’t vaccinated.
“There’s still a long road ahead of us but I know together we can achieve big things and I will be ready to roll up my sleeve, when it’s my turn.
“The most important thing everyone can do from here is to get vaccinated.”
The Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) went live on Monday and Townsville Hospital will come online Friday this week as Pfizer vaccination hubs.
The Sunshine Coast had to wait its turn as Australia’s largest-ever vaccine program began.
Gold Coast nurse Zoe Park was the first Queenslander to get the Pfizer vaccine at Gold Coast University Hospital on February 22.
The vaccine was then be rolled out in north and south Brisbane and Cairns.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the first phase of the vaccine rollout in Queensland would cover about 125,000 people – about 37,000 in the hotel quarantine system and 88,000 in care settings.
The next phase would include one million Queenslanders including those aged over 70, all healthcare workers, Indigenous Australians aged over 55, Queenslanders with a disability and emergency service teams.
All adult Queenslanders will be vaccinated by the end of October and Ms Palaszczuk implored her state’s residents to remain patient.
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