Vaxed to the max

•   Sweet celebration for Liane Darby, of Scottsdale and Karmen Davis, of Legerwood, for being fully vaccinated for Covid after getting their second Pfizer shots. 

By Tony Scott,
July 28, 2021

The State Covid clinic in Scottsdale was again booked out for people to get their Pfizer vaccinations on Sunday and Monday.

About 350 people received their second jab over the two sessions.

The Pfizer clinic, mainly aimed at 40 to 59-year olds, followed an earlier first session with the AstraZeneca vaccine strain, intended for those over 60, which was not as well attended.

There’s no indication yet if Pfizer will again be made available in the North-East.

The private GP clinic Ochre Health continues to have AstraZeneca available for its patients and the local Guardian pharmacy wants to be permitted to administer any of the Covid vaccines as they are available.

However, so far only three pharmacies have been approved for providing Covid jabs from early August.

The State Health Department said it’s responding to vaccination rates in different parts of the State.

“We will continue to monitor need in the area and if required we’ll be back to assist the local GP,” a Department spokesman said.

Two local women had very different but compelling reasons for completing the course of vaccination.

Scottsdale’s Liane Darby was in New South Wales only a few weeks ago visiting immediate family, but got home before the latest wave of the Delta strain of Covid took off.

“I’ve got a daughter and other relatives that are in the lockdown.

“One is in one of the most severely affected local government areas.

“They can’t work they just can’t anything it's horrible,” Mrs Darby said.

Legerwood resident Karmen Davis grew up in Estonia and likes to go visit her family there every year of two. 

But she hasn’t seen her mother for more than three years. And her mother hasn’t seen her two-year old grandchild.

“It really would be good to be able to go back when we can.

“I also have a sister who’s a doctor in intensive care.

“She’s treating Covid patients all the time and has told me I must have the vaccination.

“I do some work in aged care so it’s important that I’m fully protected for the people I’m working with,” she said.

Mrs Darby encouraged everyone to vaccinate.

“The sooner we get as many people as possible immunised we can start thinking about getting back to some kind of normal.”