The federal government wants to ensure that people from multicultural communities are vaccinated against COVID-19, with the first doses of the Pfizer jab set to arrive in Australia by the end of the week.
Health Minister Greg Hunt on Sunday released the government’s plan to ensure that targeted vaccine information reaches culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in appropriate languages and formats.
“The government recognises that people from multicultural communities are a significant part of the health, aged care, child care and disability workforce and will be among the first people in Australia to receive vaccinations,” he said.
The government has allocated $1.3 million, as part of its now $31 million COVID-19 vaccine rollout campaign, that will include translating materials into over 60 languages, Mr Hunt said.
“That means we will be doing advertisements in over 30 languages, information sheets and videos in over 60 languages with the support of SBS. I want to thank everybody who has been involved with that,” he told reporters.
Mr Hunt said it is crucial that any language barriers are overcome to increase uptake of the vaccine in Australia.
“We have seen from the UK that one of the challenges is people from particular backgrounds where they may not have English as a first language have the information, particularly older Australians from non-English speaking backgrounds,” he said.
“If they have the information, if their communities are supporting them, then vaccine take-up will be higher. And many of those are, of course, in an age group where they are more vulnerable.”
First Pfizer vaccine doses arriving in coming week
Mr Hunt also confirmed on Sunday that the first 80,000 doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine will arrive in Australia before the end of this week.
“I can confirm that the (Pfizer) vaccine is on track to commence first jabs in late February, Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.
But Mr Hunt was reluctant to give exact details of the vaccine arrival for security reasons in what he described as a “highly competitive global world”.
Even so, shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers is concerned that Australia is languishing in rolling out the program, which is creating uncertainty in communities and the economy more broadly.
He said some 90 countries have their vaccinations program under way.
“After the prime minister said we were at the front of the queue 160 million people have been vaccinated around the world, while zero Australians have been vaccinated,” Dr Chalmers told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda program.
Border workers, those in aged care and their carers will be among the first to get the vaccine.
Of the two new cases reported out of Victoria on Sunday, which is enduring the second day of a snap five-day lockdown, Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said this showed the thoroughness of the Victorian response.
“It is reassuring they have been found very quickly and they are the only two so far who have tested positive,” Professor Kelly told reporters.
Victoria reported a third case of someone already hotel quarantine.
However, Professor Kelly said he and his colleagues are monitoring a situation in New Zealand where three members of a South Auckland family have attracted COVID-19.
“At this stage there will be no change to the green zone flights coming from New Zealand, we feel at the moment that the risk is very low,” he said.
With additional reporting by SBS News.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
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