The first vaccines have kicked off in Albury-Wodonga as the Covid jabs start rolling out at the border hub.
Albury Wodonga Health administered its first Covid vaccines to healthcare workers.
Director of nursing, emergency and critical care at Albury Wodonga Health Clare Maher was the first to receive the Pfizer vaccine at the temporary hub at Albury Base Hospital on Wednesday, March 10.
Chief executive Michael Kalimnios said the provider would start slow administering 30 vaccines on day one, which would ramp up over the coming days and weeks.
“It’s a very momentous day for Albury Wodonga Health and of course our community,” Mr Kalimnios said.
“We’ve just opened our vaccination hub here at the hospital and we’ve already started vaccinating people.
“Vaccinating staff at high risk of coming in contact with Covid-positive patients such as ED staff our ICU staff and our anaesthetists.”
Mr Kalimnios said the conference rooms had been temporarily converted into six vaccination points, before the hub moved to the old High St, Coles building on March 22.
There will be 36 vaccination points set up at the High St hub.
Albury Wodonga Health emergency and intensive care direct David Clancy was one of the first to receive the Covid jab and said he was feeling “perfectly fine”.
“For me this is a wonderful achievement for the science community and globally,” Dr Clancy said.
“It’s a small miracle where we’re at this point in time where we can roll out a vaccine safely to our community only 12-14 months after this whole pandemic started.
“I think people in this community should have faith in the therapeutic goods administration in Australia and its robust processes.”
Mr Kalimnios said everyone at the vaccine hub this morning was feeling both nervous and excited.
“It’s the beginning of quite a significant program for us- this is the first time we’ve really been responsible for a public health unit which is new for Albury Wodonga Health.
“The creation of the public health unit as been a monumental effort by everyone.
“Everyone in the hub this morning is really keen to get going and deliver the vaccines.”
