Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman continues push for COVID vaccination hub

On Friday, the Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) instead announced a 'walk-in' clinic to be held across three days in September as a way of getting 'jabs in arms.'

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This will be held on September 5, 6 and 7 in the former RTA building in Bourke Street, opposite the Bourke Street Health Service, from 9am to 4pm each day.

Anyone over 18 can attend without a booking and receive a free AstraZeneca jab.

But Mrs Tuckerman says more is needed and isn't giving up the push for a more permanent vaccination hub.

She has taken her concerns about the three-day walk-in clinic to Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Health Minister Brad Hazzard.

"My concern is that when you start giving vaccinated people privileges, not everyone has had the same opportunity to be vaccinated," she said.

"You need to make sure it is available to everyone (otherwise) it is not fair on the people that tried and failed to get an appointment.

"My discussion with the Southern NSW Local Health District is around the need to be proactive."

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The MP said a hub operating seven days a week, ideally at the old RTA building, would help resolve this problem. The facility was used to vaccinate health workers.

Mr Barilaro had earlier hinted at a Goulburn vaccination hub, particularly given the ACT's decision to deny entry for local residents with pre-booked vaccine appointments. This was due to the ACT lockdown.

A compromise has since been struck to send these vaccines over to Goulburn, in order to reduce people movement.

"I'm happy with the transfer," Mrs Tuckerman said.

"It's a great outcome to get those second jabs in arms. When you're right on the cusp of being fully vaccinated, the concern is you'll miss out. I'm grateful to the ACT government."

The 800 vaccines coming to Goulburn will cover ACT Health and GP appointments.

At the same time, Mrs Tuckerman says she's lobbying for more Pfizer vaccines for Goulburn. She hoped these would be available in mid-September and a hub would hasten their administration.

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While local clinics and pharmacies have no shortage of AstraZeneca, most are reporting long waiting lists for Pfizer.

The MP acknowledged the trend towards 'vaccine shopping.'

"The hope is that people will revisit the vaccine type and where it is available," she said.

Goulburn Health Hub director Sophie Ashton told The Post last week that the vaccination backlog could be solved if more people opted for AstraZeneca. She believed there had been too much "misinformation" about this variety.

On Thursday, the SNSWLHD ran in a walk-in Pfizer vaccination clinic at the former RTA building in Goulburn for members of the Aboriginal community. Mrs Tuckerman said the day was very successful.

While this targeted approach was worthy, she argued a seven day a week hub would target everyone.

In related news, Goulburn Mulwaree residents must apply for exemptions to attend 'time critical' medical appointments in the ACT.

Mrs Tuckerman said medical facilities had to contact patients to ascertain their eligibility for an exemption.

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Scores of Goulburn Mulwaree residents with pre-booked appointments were left stranded when the ACT went into lockdown.

Following lobbying, ACT chief minister Andrew Barr issued a standing exemption this month for SNSWLHD patients to enter the ACT for 'time-critical' medical appointments. It did not include COVID-19 vaccines.

Mrs Tuckerman said a local couple who were concerned they might not receive an exemption to have a caesarian birth in Canberra were fortunately granted entry. They had a baby girl on Thursday.

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