FRONTLINE healthcare workers and Western District Health Service (WDHS) aged care residents and staff will be the first locals to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination when the local roll-out begins on Wednesday.

WDHS will kick off the first phase of the Southern Grampians COVID-19 vaccination roll-out with 200 vaccinations administered by nursing and medical staff.

A team from the Barwon South West Public Health Unit will be on site to support the delivery of the Pfizer vaccine.

A targeted roll-out of the AstraZeneca vaccine will take place on Thursday and Friday, with 700 local emergency workers, healthcare staff, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 55, and WDHS clients and volunteers over the age of 70 to receive the vaccination.

WDHS chief executive, Rohan Fitzgerald said his team was excited to be receiving the region’s first doses next week.

“This is something we have been planning for many weeks, and our team is keen to begin the vaccination phase,” he said.

“We are eager to be getting on with the job of delivering the vaccine to protect those most at risk in our community.”

Mr Fitzgerald said with both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines arriving in the same week, there were some logistical challenges, particularly as vaccinations will be by appointment only.

“We will be contacting people directly to book in for their appointment, there is no need to call WDHS,” he said.

“Coordinating the bookings for several hundred vaccinations will be a big task and I ask that people do ensure they let us know if they can’t make their appointment, as early as possible - this will mean that we can reallocate their appointment to someone else.

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