Benjamin Millar
Australia’s first drive-through COVID-19 vaccination hub has opened in Melton.
Operated by Western Health, the hub opened on Monday at the former Bunnings Warehouse site in Barries Road and is part of a drive to ramp up vaccination rates as Melbourne remains in the grip of the latest COVID-19 outbreak, including four Caroline Springs cases.
“You book, you drive up, roll down your window, roll up your sleeve, get a jab, it’s that easy,” Department of Health’s COVID Response deputy secretary Naomi Bromley said.
Drivers and passengers are screened for eligibility and symptoms at the carpark entry, then proceed in batches of 10 cars to an identification check-in point.
Following the vaccination they remain in their car for the 15-minute observation period before exiting the site.
While Moorabool joined other regional areas in having restrictions eased from 11:59pm Monday night, Melton remains under strict lockdown following the latest western suburbs COVID-19 outbreak.
A Melton school remains closed and eleven cases have been linked to CS Square Shopping Centre in Caroline Springs.
Heathdale Christian College notified families of a positive COVID-19 case on Thursday night, immediately closing the school’s Werribee and Melton campuses after a confirmed case in a year 6 pupil.
“Due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 at the Werribee campus in year 6, both campuses are closed until further notice,” the school stated.
“Due to cross-campus contact, anyone who was on either campus on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday [last] week must self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19.
“Students and teachers in years 5 and 6 and their households must continue to quarantine for 14 days.”
The entire CS Square shopping centre has been deemed a tier two site between July 27 and August 5 and multiple locations are tier one sites after an outbreak than began with a Spectacle Hub staff member last week grew to 11 positive cases by Monday.
Two staff members at the Jolly Miller Café and a real estate agent were identified on Sunday as new cases associated with the cluster.
Five household members of the real estate agent, a household member of a Jolly Miller staff member and a Spectacle Hub customer were all identified as positive on Monday.
At least 400 close contacts have been connected to the centre, with two-thirds returning negative tests to date.
