Northern Queensland Primary Health Network’s (NQPHN) Vaccine Works campaign spotlights the region’s vaccinating general practices and pharmacies, and focuses on the primary care sector’s highly-successful role in increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates in North Queensland.
In Sarina, three general practices and two pharmacies are currently vaccinating the local community:
- Awal Medical
- Sarina Family Practice
- Sarina Clinic
- Terry White Chemmart Sarina
- Sarina Discount Drugstore.
As of today (15 October 2021), these five primary care providers have together delivered more than 7,800 COVID vaccines to the wider Sarina community, which has a population of approximately 7,000 people.
Awal Medical has led the way, administering more than 4,700 doses from its practice since March this year.
Practice Manager Yogita Awal said Awal Medical has been involved in the national COVID vaccination program rollout since day one.
“We felt it was important to us to keep the Sarina community COVID safe,” Yogita said.
“We believe in protecting the community and reducing the burden on the health system. Our message is ‘Get the jab. Vaccine works’.”
Terry White Chemmart Sarina has administered more than 450 vaccines over the past two months after pharmacies joined the vaccination rollout program in August.
Owner Therese Lambert said: “We even opened out of hours last week and did a clinic with over 30 walk-ins.
“I love helping the community by offering them options to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
Ms Lambert said she is also heading to Australia's largest rail freight operator Aurizon next week at their Jilalan depot to offer vaccination clinics for employees and their families.
Dr Shahanaz Meer, Practice Principal at Sarina Clinic, said her practice had administered more than 2,000 AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines to the Sarina community since March 2021.
NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte praised Sarina’s vaccinating GPs and pharmacies, and said the primary care sector is playing a key role in the ever-increasing rate of COVID-19 vaccinations across North Queensland.
“Our Vaccine Works campaign is about showcasing our local primary care providers for all the amazing work they’ve done over the past few months to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates in North Queensland and protect our community,” Ms Whyte said.
“Primary care plays a vital role in the national vaccination rollout program, as it has the capacity to vaccinate in a distributed model by offering place-based solutions in local communities.
“North Queensland, due to its geography, presents unique challenges and opportunities, and the incredible work of general practices and pharmacies in our region will support us to reach our vaccination targets sooner rather than later.”
In North Queensland, there are currently 135 general practices, 115 pharmacies, 10 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, and four GP-led Respiratory Clinics administering COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna).
To book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, including at Queensland Health clinics, people are encouraged to use the Australian Government’s official COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder at https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au