CORONAVIRUS — VACCINATIONS
313. Ms C.M. ROWE to the Premier:
I refer to Western Australia's
COVID-19 vaccination program and the state's effort to get as many
eligible Western Australians vaccinated as quickly as possible.
(1) Can the
Premier update the house on the two-week vaccination blitz announced today and
what that will mean for Western Australians?
(2) Can the Premier outline why all
eligible Western Australians should get vaccinated?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
I
thank the member for Belmont for the question. I also welcome everyone back
after the break in the middle of the year.
I acknowledge our Australian Olympians, who are doing so well in Tokyo as we
speak. I would like to especially acknowledge our swimmers, particularly
the women's swimming team, who have done outstandingly well. I also
acknowledge Western Australia's own Annabelle McIntyre, who started out
at the Fremantle Rowing Club and who has now won gold in the women's
coxless four. What a terrific achievement! I also acknowledge Matt Wearn from
the Fremantle Sailing Club, who won gold in the sailing Laser class. That was a
brilliant achievement. And, of course, I know
that we are all cheering for Peter Bol tomorrow. What a great story and what a great
human being. Like everyone, I hope that he does well tomorrow in the 800
metres.
(1)–(2) The
government is determined to get as many people vaccinated as possible. COVID-19
is out there—in the eastern states, around the world and on planes and
ships. Last week, we had a record week for vaccinations,
with more than 57 000 COVID-19 vaccines administered in our state-run community
clinics. That means that over 1.1 million vaccines have been
administered in Western Australia. But we need to continue this momentum, so
this morning the Minister for Health and I announced that from 16 August the state will undertake a two-week vaccination
blitz. That will mean that Western Australians aged between 30 and 39 years of age who have already registered
can book an appointment at one of our state-run clinics. As of just now, 12 685 eligible 30 to 39-year-olds
had made a booking since this morning's announcement. This will
be for the Pfizer vaccination, which, of course, these people are eligible for.
All other Western Australians who were not already registered will be able to
book an appointment from 9 August, which is about a week from now. Over the
two-week blitz period, 140 000 appointments for the Pfizer vaccine will be on
offer for eligible Western Australians. That will be the highest number that we
have offered so far. Also, on 16 August, we will open a CBD clinic at the Perth
Convention Centre. We will also expand the opening hours and staffing levels at
state-run clinics as we get more vaccine supplies to hand, particularly
supplies of the Pfizer vaccine.
We
urge all Western Australians when they become eligible to get themselves
vaccinated. We have not had as strong a vaccination take-up as New South Wales,
but as a state we have not received the extra supply that New South Wales has,
nor have we have had the big outbreak that occurred in NSW, which, of course,
encourages more people to get vaccinated. Obviously, we do not want an outbreak
and we are fighting as hard as we can to stop an outbreak coming this
way. At the same time, we need Western Australians to go out and get
vaccinated. I urge every member in this place to encourage your family and
friends, your community and your electorate
to go and get vaccinated as soon as they possibly can. It will save lives. It
will save your family, your parents and your grandparents, and potentially
yourself. Go and get vaccinated!