Biscuits, mobile vans, and country pubs are being used to entice people to get the COVID-19 jab in regional South Australia, which has some of the lowest vaccinations figures in the nation.

Key points:

  • Country publicans say walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations is helping to entice farmers and rural residents
  • Limestone Coast health officials are concerned about low rates ahead of a potential border opening
  • The region has potentially just six weeks to get vaccinations to 80 per cent

SA Health has begun rolling out walk-in clinics in the Grant District Council area, which was previously identified as having the worst recorded figure in Australia. 

Health officials say the vaccination rate for the Limestone Coast is around 50 per cent, which is a concern giving the potential opening of the borders around Christmas.

Limestone Coast executive director of medical services Dr Elaine Pretorius said the health network would continue to run walk-in clinics to boost vaccination rates.

She said a number of country pubs on the Limestone Coast were now housing walk-in vaccination clinics. 

Dr Pretorius said the health service was also planning to deploy a mobile van to travel around the region administering doses.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to catch some more people to be able to vaccinate,” she said.

Sara Soulsby says the walk-in clinic in a pub setting is helping locals and farmers come and get the jab.(ABC South East SA: Sandra Morello)

Bellum Hotel acting manager Sara Soulsby said locals and passers-by were dropping into the pub, located in the Grant district, for their Pfizer vaccine.

She said there were some concerns among the local community about the low vaccination rate in the district which was prompting people to use these walk-in clinics.

Ms Soulsby said there was also some concern the border could open and the virus would spill into the region.

She said having vaccinations in country hubs was providing a casual and accessible environment for people.

Walk-in weekend

Dr Pretorius said the vaccination clinic in Mount Gambier would be included the state government’s Super Walk-in Weekend.

The Limestone Coast Local Health Network is hoping local residents will get vaccinated at the walk-in clinics.(ABC South East SA: Sandra Morello)

Dr Pretorius said it would be “absolutely marvellous” if the health service could administer more than 350 doses each day.

“We do have some AstraZeneca available for people who need to have their second dose,” she said.

Low vax rates

Dr Pretorius said it was important to improve the vaccination rate on the Limestone Coast, including the Grant district.

“We’ve discussed before that we’re not convinced the numbers [from the Federal Government] are entirely accurate,” Dr Pretorius said.

“Irrespective … it’s still not close to that 80 or 90 per cent that we’re hoping for.”

She said the vaccination rate needed to be higher in response to discussions about borders reopening before Christmas.

“If we think that the borders are going to open up, perhaps in December, then then we’ve got six weeks to get that number up to 80 per cent.

“We want to be a fully vaccinated community by the time the borders open because we know that is going to protect us.”

Nearly 60 per cent of eligible South Australians are fully vaccinated, while over 76 per cent have received at least their first dose.

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