THE Riverland’s first COVID-19 vaccines are set to arrive in the region next week, with the Riverland General Hospital receiving an $11,000 storage freezer yesterday.
The first Pfizer vaccine shipment is expected to be delivered next Monday, with one tray of about 975 doses to arrive each week.
The Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) expect the number of vaccines shipped to the Riverland to be more than enough to cope with demand.
The newly installed storage freezer will be able to hold up to 130,000 vaccine doses and is able to operate safely at -70C, which is required to safely store the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said the freezer was vital for the distribution of the vaccine in the region, and that the State Government expected the Riverland hub to begin administering vaccines “in the coming weeks”.
“South Australia’s COVID-19 response to the pandemic has been world-leading and now we have marked another milestone, with the arrival of this new specialised ultra-low temperature freezer at Berri,” he said.
“This brings the Riverland General Hospital hub online and builds on the strong progress of the state’s biggest ever peacetime operation.
“Given the scale and complexity of the operation in front of us, we know that there will be road bumps along the way, but we are determined to ensure the safe, efficient and timely delivery of vaccines in a prioritised manner over the course of 2021…
“In line with the Commonwealth Government’s Phase 1a, we have already provided more than 3500 vaccinations to quarantine and border staff and frontline healthcare workers.
“These workers will continue to receive the vaccine as a priority through the Riverland General Hospital hub.”
The Riverland General Hospital became the state’s second regional vaccine hub to come online, after the first AstraZeneca vaccines in Australia were administered in Murray Bridge last week.
RMCLHN chief executive officer Wayne Champion said staff were excited to receive the freezer in anticipation of the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The arrival of this freezer signals the readiness of our workforce to establish our Pfizer hub,” he said.
“Our vaccination workforce, including administrative and support staff, have already completed the required training and induction programs so they are ready to safely provide the vaccine to frontline staff once our clinic opens.
“We were excited to start administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to frontline healthcare workers at the Murray Bridge Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital last week, and are just as excited for this freezer to arrive at the Riverland General Hospital so that we can store and start administering the Pfizer vaccine as soon as supplies arrive from the Commonwealth Government.
“Our staff know how important it is to vaccinate against diseases like COVID-19 to not only protect themselves and their loved ones, but also to increase protection of those most vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 in our community.”
For more information about COVID-19 vaccinations, visit www.covid-19.sa.gov.au.