Elsie Lange
Hume and Whittlesea residents have been urged to get a booster shot after new research showed a third dose dramatically reduces likelihood of needing intensive care.
Data released by the Department of Health on February 14 showed that a person who had received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine was more than seven times more likely to wind up in ICU than those with three doses.
People with just two doses made up more than 60 per cent of cases in intensive care.
Hume and Whittlesea are lagging behind the statewide third vaccination rate of 53.2 per cent of Victorians aged 18 and over, with Hume at nearly 40 per cent and Whittlesea at 43 per cent.
Despite Hume’s incredible effort to vaccinate its population with second doses in 2021, the third dose uptake in Melbourne’s north is slow.
Hume councillor Naim Kurt urged the community to get boosted today, but said he believes access to the shots in Hume remains an issue.
“I’m pleased that council has recognised this and has partnered with DPV Health to offer twilight sessions at our pop-up vaccination sites for people who work during the day,” Cr Kurt said.
“As I’ve said throughout this pandemic, our community is not vaccine hesitant, they just require vaccines to be as easily accessible as possible.”
A spokesperson from the Department of Health said getting a third dose of the vaccine is the “best thing” Victorians can do to protect themselves from the virus.
“There is clear data showing a third dose decreases the chances of being hospitalised by 90 per cent,” the DHS spokesperson said.
Mayor Carly Moore reinforced the message that Hume residents get their third dose, “to help protect themselves, their loved ones and their community from COVID-19”.
“We are working to make it as easy as possible for our community to get their third dose locally, with a variety of pop-up vaccinations clinics currently operating across Craigieburn, Kalkallo and Broadmeadows,” Cr Moore said.
“We are always working to roll out a variety of new vaccination venues for our community and are proud to be launching our new Splash ‘N’ Vax campaign at our Aquatic and Leisure Centres in Craigieburn, Sunbury, and Broadmeadows from Monday, February 21.”
