Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak on the national vaccine rollout and the recent increase in doses available to constituents in Barker. The national COVID-19 program is continuing to roll out, and I, like others in this place, am encouraged by the fact there are very many constituents keen to receive the vaccine. The program was boosted in early May, with the Australian government increasing the number of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine provided weekly to GP clinics for those over the age of 50. GP clinics previously receiving 50 doses are week are now receiving 150 doses a week and those previously receiving 100 doses are now receiving 200 doses per week.

While I understand there is some community concern about the rollout and the vaccine's availability, 34 GP clinics and respiratory clinics across Barker are rolling out a supply of more than 9,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine each and every week, while vaccination hubs in Mount Gambier, Bordertown, Berri, Kingston, Lameroo, Murray Bridge, Naracoorte, Penola, Pinnaroo and Millicent are rolling out the Pfizer vaccine to the cohort between 16 and 49. To anyone that's received the vaccine, I say thank you. But to those that are patiently waiting for this vaccine I also say thank you, because you know that this is the largest peacetime undertaking our nation has ever embarked upon.