While only 58 per cent of the SA’s eligible population has been doubled vaccinated, the state government is hoping to snag hesitant South Australians by offering them free sausages at more than 20 health clinics this weekend.
Key points:
- With barely two months to go until Christmas, just over 58 per cent of eligible South Australians have been jabbed
- More than 20 healthcare clinics are participating in the “walk-in weekend”
- SA Health says the event will have a “carnival-like” atmosphere
Sausage sizzles will be held throughout the state — from Mount Gambier in the south-east to Ceduna in the far west — to encourage vaccinations this Saturday and Sunday.
Health Minister Stephen Wade said the barbecue blitz would allow eligible South Australians to get their first or second Pfizer jabs without having to make an appointment.
“Some of these clinics don’t normally allow walk-ins,” he said.
“What we’ve seen interstate is that events like this have had a positive impact.
The government said 58 per cent of the state’s eligible population had so far been double vaccinated — significantly short of the 80 per cent target needed for borders to reopen by Christmas.
But it said that “every jab” would contribute to easing restrictions and relaxing borders, and that the “super walk-in weekend” would be a “festive event”.
Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Emily Kirkpatrick said SA Health was expecting a surge in demand.
“During our Super Walk-In Weekend, the participating clinics will have a carnival-like atmosphere with sausage sizzles and activities, so there really is no better time to get vaccinated,” Dr Kirkpatrick said.
Children aged between 12 and 15 who want to get vaccinated will need to be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
The move comes on top of other recent measures to boost vaccination rates in SA, including an expanded rollout in schools.
Meanwhile, Mr Wade said he was “very disappointed” by recent protests demanding an end to social restrictions.
“If you’re able to have a vaccine, I believe you have a duty not just to yourself but those you care about.”
Asked about reported hesitancy among some healthcare workers, Mr Wade defended the decision to mandate vaccination for frontline staff.
“This is not the first time we’ve rolled out a mandatory vaccination program,” he said.
“We did it in relation to aged care workers and people were telling us the sky would fall in, we wouldn’t be able to man residential aged care facilities across the nation.
“In fact, what happened was that as we got closer and closer to the mandatory date, we had a very significant escalation in vaccinations.”
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