Pre-winter vaccination push announced

(Damjan Janevski)

More than 120 vaccine pop-ups will be set up across the state this month, including in Melton, as part of an “autumn blitz” to increase booster shot rates in the leader up to winter.

There will be a particular focus on areas where third dose uptake is lower than the state average of 62 per cent and where there are lower numbers of GP and pharmacy services. These areas include Hume, Brimbank, Dandenong, Melton, Moreland, Casey and Darebin.

The pop-ups will be held at easy to access locations such as libraries, sports facilities, malls, markets, festivals, playgrounds, primary schools and Bunnings.

Data shows there are still 1.7 million Victorians who are yet to receive their third dose. In Regional Victoria, Latrobe, Mildura, and Mitchell are the only Local Government Areas under the state average.

Health Minister Martin Foley said Victorians should not rely on two doses to get through winter.

“We thank all the staff at St Vincent’s Hospital for delivering more than 400,000 doses at the Royal Exhibition Building and helping to protect so many Victorians from COVID-19,” she said.

“More and more Victorians are choosing to get vaccinated at clinics closer to home thanks to the growing number of GPs and pharmacies who are delivering the vaccine.”