Staff share COVID-19 vaccine messages with local communities.

Sydney Local Health District staff have hit the streets to further spread the word about mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics, with everyone aged 16-59 now eligible for a free Pfizer jab at the pop-up clinics – no matter where they live.

So far, more than 40,000 people have been vaccinated at the District’s mobile clinics since the first one was set up in Lakemba in July.

“Vaccination is our best weapon in the fight against COVID-19.Bringing vaccination clinics to our community, near where people live or work, is one way we can make it easier for them to get the jab,” Renee Moreton, the District’s General Manager of Population Health, said.

Staff have visited 300 local businesses and distributed 2700 flyers to promote the mobile vaccination clinics, with Shih-Chi Kao, the Manager of the District’s HIV and Related Programs Unit, among those redeployed to proactively reach out to the District’s community.

“It’s really important for us to inform the community firsthand and to provide accurate and up to date information.

“The mobile vaccination clinics are helping many people, who would otherwise find it hard to navigate the health care system, to get a vaccine.

“We’ve been able to provide access to vaccination for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who need language support, and those without Medicare cards,” he said.

Lillian, a florist, was pleased to learn a mobile vaccination clinic was close to her store.

“I’m really grateful for these pop-up vaccination clinics – especially because they are just down the road from me in Ashfield,” she said.

Over the past two months, mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics have been held in a library, school gymnasium, church, mosque, RSL club, rugby league club, a PCYC, and at function and sports centres, an auditorium and warehouse.

And the clinics have been held in suburbs across the District including Ashfield, Belmore, Burwood, Campsie, Flemington, Glebe, Greenacre, Marrickville, Punchbowl, Redfern, Riverwood, Ultimo, Waterloo and Zetland.

“Anyone aged 16 –59 can now get a free Pfizer vaccine at our mobile vaccination clinics, no matter where they live in Sydney. So, it’s time to roll up your sleeve and help us stop the spread of COVID-19,” Ms Moreton said.

The District’s Koori Vaccination Clinics offer vaccines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 12 years and above.

There are cultural support workers and interpreters at the mobile vaccination clinics to assist people.

The District is currently delivering about 90,000 vaccines every week across its mobile and fixed vaccination sites and has administered more than one-million vaccines since February.

The District runs NSW Health Vaccination Centres or clinics at Bicentennial Park, Canterbury Hospital, RPA, Sydney Airport and Sydney Olympic Park.

For more information about how to get a COVID-19 vaccination, please click here.