Health authorities turn to schools to lift Murray Bridge's lagging vaccination rate

Murray Bridge High School students will have an opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on Wednesday as the state government looks to improve the district’s lagging vaccination rate.

Almost 72 per cent of Murray Bridge residents have had at least one COVID-19 vaccination, according to Department of Health figures published on Monday.

But only 56.4% of locals aged 15 and over are fully vaccinated, compared with 77.5% nationally.

Vaccines will be offered to all students aged 12 to 18 who have already received parental consent, plus their parents, siblings and school staff.

Only students whose families had filled in a consent form would be allowed to participate, principal Ruth Mussger said, just like any other school-based immunisation.

“I strongly encourage you to consider vaccination as the best protection you can give your family before the borders reopen,” she said in a school newsletter on Monday.

COVID-19 vaccination FAQs for parents and caregivers213KB ∙ PDF fileDownloadAll South Australians aged 12 and over are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. SA Health says the COVID-19 vaccine is a safe way to protect you and your children from getting sick. Research from around the world has shown that Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for children aged 12 and over.Download

Premier Steven Marshall said increasing the vaccination rate among school students would help protect all South Australians as the state prepared to re-open its borders.

“Vaccination is the key to South Australians enjoying the freedom and mobility that we are all hoping for,” he said.

“If we all get behind the rollout and push up past the 90 per cent double vaccination milestone, we can have a more normal Christmas.”

Health Minister Stephen Wade thanked everyone who had been vaccinated already.

Vaccination clinics will have been set up in 78 South Australian schools by the end of this week, mostly in more vulnerable communities and those where vaccination rates are relatively low.

• More information about COVID-19 vaccinations for young people: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au.

Grown-ups can get vaccinated, too

Two pop-up vaccination clinics will be accept people of all ages, without any need for an appointment, this week.

Murray Bridge’s main vaccination clinic, next door to the hospital at 108 Swanport Road, will accept walk-ins between 8.30am and 3.30pm this Thursday, November 4.

Tailem Bend Hospital will do the same between 10am and 2pm on Saturday.

In both cases, doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be made available to anyone over the age of 12, with no appointment required.

Anyone planning on heading down there should bring their Medicare card and a bottle of water.

Vaccination appointments are available at the Murray Bridge clinic, and many local pharmacies, on other days.

AC Care will also offer vaccinations at their Bridge Street, Murray Bridge office from 9am to 4pm on November 17 and December 3.

• Make a vaccination appointment: Visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/covidvaccine or, for the pop-up clinic at AC Care, call 8531 4900.

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