EMMA MCBRIDE MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CARERS
MEMBER FOR DOBELL

SENATOR DEBORAH O'NEILL​
LABOR SENATOR FOR NSW

PETITION FOR CENTRAL COAST MASS VACCINATION CENTRE

Federal Member for Dobell, Emma McBride MP and Labor Senator for NSW, Deborah O’Neill have launched a petition, calling for a Mass Vaccination Centre to be established on the Central Coast.

The region is now in its fifth week of lockdown, there are several active COVID-19 cases in the area and locals are facing up to 60 days for a vaccine appointment.

Ms McBride says this wouldn’t have happened if the Government hadn’t botched the vaccine rollout.

“In a community where one in five people are aged over 65, there is an urgent need to get more vaccines in arms.

“It’s nearly 6 months into the rollout, and Coasties are still struggling to get doses.

“Sydney already has three vaccination hubs, the Hunter has one and Wollongong will launch its first hub next month. Why is the Coast being overlooked when our community is at serious risk?”

Senator O’Neill says this necessary investment in our community will help clear the backlog of vaccination appointments on the Central Coast and make our region more resilient to the virus.

“At the moment vaccination appointments at Gosford and Wyong Hospital have to be booked two months in advance and the Erina Respiratory Clinic has closed all bookings – at this stage we will never get in front of the virus.

“We are a region in our own right and have been so for over a decade. We need practical action right now in the form of a Central Coast Regional Mass Vaccination Centre,” Senator O’Neill said.

“This is very serious. The Coast is stuck in a lockdown caused by the fast-spreading Delta variant, why hasn’t the government set-up a mass vaccination centre?

“Delayed timelines and excuses just won’t do anymore. People’s lives are at risk. The Prime Minister must give our community our fair share of vaccines and fast access to those vaccines.”

MONDAY 26 JULY, 2021