Goondiwindi community now among “most vaccinated populations in the country

The Goondiwindi community is now among the “most vaccinated populations in the country,” says Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM.

Just over 3,000 COVID-19 vaccines were delivered in the first round of the Darling Downs Health (DDH) Pfizer ‘surge clinic’ at the Goondiwindi Hospital earlier this month. Of that number, 1,883 doses went into the arms of people from the Goondiwindi township and surrounding 4390 postcode, with a further 287 vaccines given to residents from elsewhere in the region.

Cr Springborg said that as a result of the one-week clinic, about half of the eligible adult population of Goondiwindi town has now received at least one dose of the vaccine.

“For a population of about 6,000 people in the Goondiwindi town to receive a total of nearly 1,900 COVID vaccines in one week is a tremendous effort and a really fantastic achievement from our community,” the Mayor said.

“When you also take into consideration the number of older residents and those working in health and aged care who have already received their vaccine from their GP – I understand that number is well in excess of another 1,000 people – then the Goondiwindi community is now likely among the highest vaccination percentages in the country.”

A total of 2,170 Pfizer vaccines went to residents from across the Goondiwindi LGA during the surge clinic.

“Many residents made the trip to Goondiwindi from Inglewood and Texas, and we also saw a take-up from residents from Bungunya, Talwood, Toobeah, Yelarbon and Kurrumbul, with some travelling from as far away as Weengallon.

“I want to thank those residents who made the effort to do the right thing by our community,” he said. “We know how important the vaccination is to protect ourselves and our loved ones – it’s an essential step to being able to get on with our lives without the constant uncertainty and disruption.

“I also want to thank our friends from across the New South Wales border, and especially my fellow Mayor Katrina Humphries of Moree Plains Shire Council for encouraging our neighbours from Moree and surrounding areas to take up this opportunity. Goondiwindi is a hub for a very large regional area and it was important that we shared our access to the vaccine with those across our ‘border bubble’.”

Darling Downs Health has advised it will return to deliver the second dose only of the Pfizer vaccine at the Goondiwindi Hospital from 30 July - 5 August. Residents who received their first dose in the surge clinic should have the details of their appointment for the second dose. For assistance, contact DDH on 1800 490 468.

Cr Springborg is urging residents to ensure they check their appointment details carefully to make sure they receive their second dose.

“We’d like to see those same 3,000 people who had their first vaccine return for their second dose at the follow-up clinic,” Cr Springborg said. “By early August, we will a very high proportion of our community fully vaccinated. We have the opportunity to become the envy of many other towns, regions and even cities across the country - I don’t think I can stress enough what a uniquely fortunate and advantageous position we’re in to have such available access to the vaccine.”

Residents are reminded that the COVID-19 vaccine is currently available in the Goondiwindi Region’s medical centres and will soon also be available in some local pharmacies. Residents should check with their healthcare provider about which vaccination option is best for them.