Federal Member for Mackellar Jason Falinski MP has again urged NSW Health Minister Hon. Brad Hazzard to open up a vaccination hub on the Northern Beaches that prioritises students and teachers.
Both Wakehurst and Warringah Rugby Clubs who have offered up their fields, club houses and amenities at Belrose and Narrabeen to assist with the roll out. These venues are now being considered by the NSW Health Vaccination team.
This follows the recent communication from Dee Why RSL who offered their premises to trial drive through vaccinations on the Northern Beaches.
The Federal Member for Mackellar says it must be made a matter of priority to get our 12-15 year old’s vaccinated on the Northern Beaches so they can get back into the classroom before the end of the year.
“NSW Health have done an extraordinary job in getting over 70% of the state population to date at least one COVID-19 vaccination in such a short period of time.
“We must turn our attention to making sure we get teachers and high school students vaccinated as soon as possible. A dedicated mass vaccination hub on the Northern Beaches is the answer to getting students back in the classroom before the end of term four,” Jason Falinski MP said.
Former Wakehurst Rugby Club President and Life Member Gareth Blades says the club wants to do its bit in helping the community get out of this lockdown.
“Unfortunately, there has been no rugby played on our facilities for over three months.
“I drive past our ground most days and think it would be a perfect location to set up a vaccination hub. We have a large field with a club house, ample parking and dual access.
“We just want to give back to the people of the Northern Beaches by providing them a greater opportunity to get vaccinated so we can open up and get life back to a new normal,” Blades said.
Australia will receive close to 9 million mRNA COVID-19 doses in the month of September. That is double what the country was initially expecting after the Morrison Government announced a Pfizer swap deal with the United Kingdom last week. That doesn’t include an additional 500k Pfizer vaccines set to arrive from Singapore in the coming weeks.
On Thursday 26th August Health Minister Hon. Brad Hazzard MP said in the NSW Government daily press conference, “I've just received a text message saying that we still have vacancies today. We have 8,000 at the Qudos Stadium. We have 2,500 at Macquarie Fields, and we have a 1,000 Prairiewood.”
Mr Falinski has underlined a concern of vaccines not being utilised following a required reallocation of doses to parts of South Western Sydney to combat a surge in cases across July and August.
“Like Minister Hazzard, I don’t want to see vaccination rates cool off, bookings left open and I certainly don’t want to risk vaccines going to waste.
“Day in and day out I am receiving a growing number of calls or emails from concerned parents of senior students as well as teachers and carers of all levels from the Northern Beaches about attaining a vaccine appointment. There is certainly strong enough demand for another mass vaccine hub on the beaches,” Jason Falinski MP said.
Mr Falinski has again written to Brad Hazzard and is awaiting a formal response on the matter.