AS eligible Hamilton residents rush to get their COVID-19 vaccination, confusion has arisen around which clinics have doses available.

Local GP clinics including the Hamilton Medical Group (HMG) and Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation have received their AstraZeneca vaccines directly from the Australian Federal Government, while Western District Health Service (WDHS) received its doses from the Federal Government supply, via the Victorian Government.

WDHS only received 50 doses of the AstraZeneca jab this week, which had to be distributed to a catchment population extending to the South Australian border.

However, the HMG vaccinated over 500 people this week alone, while Winda-Mara vaccinated over 30 people in two days this week.

WDHS chief executive, Rohan Fitzgerald said the hospital was frustrated at the current process to receive the vaccines.

“We were disappointed by the news when we had hundreds of people registering their interest on our website - rest assured we are working hard behind the scenes to secure more vaccines for the local community,” he said.

“The vaccine puzzle gets a bit confusing because it is a multilayered system with no single point of accountability.

“The Victorian distribution scheme has created challenges for those delivering vaccines on the ground. 

“We need more transparency and supply reliability so we can better plan and resource clinics to achieve the herd immunity so necessary for us to get back to the ‘old normal’.”

To meet the increased demand, Hamilton GP clinics had secured extra doses this week – WDHS and local GPs combined have administered over 5000 vaccines to date.

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