MP calls for more vaccines

DATA released by the Australian Government last week revealed Bendigo led the nation in first dose COVID-19 vaccination rates, but Federal member Lisa Chesters said the region could do even better with more supply.

As of 2 August, 52.6 per cent of people aged 15 years and over had already received their first jab and 25.1 per cent were fully vaccinated.

Speaking from her electorate office ahead of virtual Parliament last week, Ms Chesters said the vaccine rollout needed to be sped up, particularly for places like the Mollison Street mass vaccination hub.

“We’re sitting at the top of the charts, we’re in the lead however less than 400, 500 metres from where I’m standing, the mass vaccination hub that is doing that great work is in desperate [need of] supply of more vaccines,” she said.

“We’d have even more people vaccinated if the Federal Government could speed up the roll out.

“That’s my biggest message to the Government… ‘get us the vaccines and we will get vaccinated’.”

In the race to get the country protected against the virus, Ms Chesters said Bendigo could “go for gold”.

“Every day I’m approached by people under 40 who want to get vaccinated. Whether health advice is to wait it out for Pfizer or Moderna, get those vaccinations here to Bendigo and we’ll win the race and we’ll get vaccinated sooner,” she said.

“We’re ready to finish the race, we’re ready to get vaccinated to do our bit to keep ourselves safe, to keep our loved ones and community safe and also bring an end to the uncertainty around restrictions and lockdowns.”