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East Gippsland's three hospitals and council urge people to get vaccinated in the fight against COVID-19

Council encouraging everyone in the community to get vaccinated.

By news@gippsland - 9th August 2021 - Back to News

East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Cr Mendy Urie has joined with the leaders of East Gippsland's three hospitals - Bairnsdale, Orbost and Omeo - to urge people to get vaccinated in the fight against COVID-19.

Many vaccination centres are available for walk ins for aged care and disability workers, but bookings are preferred

Roll up your sleeves

Cr Urie said, "The message from us all is simple: when it's your turn to get vaccinated, roll up your sleeves and do your part for our community, getting vaccinated is one of the most important things we can do for the health of our community, so please don't hesitate. I applaud everyone who has answered the call so far, and to all health workers who are proactively supporting our community."

"Our community is great at supporting one another. Here's our most important opportunity to demonstrate that we're all in this together. We have all experienced the challenges that tough restrictions and lockdowns impose on our way of life. Getting vaccinated is a critical step in helping us move away from lockdowns and into a COVID normal without this disruption to our daily lives."

Keeping everyone healthy

Robyn Hayles, Chief Executive Officer at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, said all staff at BRHS and healthcare workers across East Gippsland have been working flat out over the past year to keep everyone healthy and prevent COVID from devastating the community.

Ms Hayles said, "Compared to some communities, and other countries, we have been lucky. Now we need you to pitch in and do your part - as soon as you are eligible, please get your COVID vaccination. There are a number of locations in this area providing vaccines. Go online or talk to your GP, book a date and get it done.

"It is such a small inconvenience, but it is an act of great generosity and community spirit. By getting vaccinated you are doing something important to help protect this community. We have two options if we want to keep this community safe from this deadly disease. One is a continuing cycle of lockdowns and restrictions. The other is for the majority of the population to get vaccinated. If you are eligible, please go and get it done."

Standing together as a community

Vicki Farthing, Chief Executive Officer at Orbost Regional Health, said communities in East Gippsland care about families, lifestyle and their environment. "We all want those closest to us to be safe and well and to have the freedom to enjoy this beautiful part of the world that we live in and to share it with others not lucky enough to live here."

"We stand together as a community through bushfires and floods. The COVID-19 pandemic is no different, we need to stand together as a community and encourage our families, our friends and our neighbours to get vaccinated so that we can have the freedom to participate in activities that we want to do and keep our region strong, socially and economically," Ms Farthing said.

Best protection for rural community

Associate Professor Arish Naresh, Chief Executive Officer at Omeo District Health, said rural and regional hospitals are not set up adequately to care for people suffering from COVID-19.

A/Prof Naresh said, "Therefore, the best protection for our rural communities is for people to get vaccinated with a safe, effective and free COVID-19 vaccine. Do it for your loved ones, your community and ultimately for your country. This is our own version of the Olympics, but the podium finish here is to achieve herd immunity."

Ticket to achieve

Cr Urie said the community has much to gain from a strong vaccination turnout. "Being able to hold and attend events, participate in community sports with crowds attending, and have some certainty around our businesses remaining open - it's what we all want."

"These activities are great for our social connections and to support one another. We haven't had the easiest of rides in the past couple of years, so being able to gather, play, create, laugh and cry together is important. A high vaccination rate against COVID-19 is our ticket to achieve this." Cr Urie said.