THE Department of Health has released it’s first breakdown of vaccination rates per Local Government Area across Australia.

Buloke Shire has regional Victoria’s second highest rate of first and second-dose COVID-19 vaccination.

48.4% of the residents aged 16 and above are fully vaccinated as of Friday, August 27, and an impressive 71.6% of residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper is delighted this tight-knit community is leading by example.

“What an incredible achievement by the people of Buloke Shire,” Ms Cupper said.

“Close to two and a half thousand people in Buloke are now fully vaccinated, despite the fact the closest mass vaccination clinics are in Bendigo, Horsham and Mildura.

“What makes this feat even more incredible is Buloke’s one of only two Victorian LGAs to have not recorded a single case of coronavirus across the entire pandemic.”

The only Victorian LGA to pull ahead of Buloke Shire’s vaccination rate so far is the Borough of Queenscliffe.

Queenscliffe has close to half of Buloke’s population, spanning 10.83 square kilometres, and it’s around 35 kilometres from a vaccine hub in Geelong.

“Given the size of Buloke Shire, and it’s distance from mass vaccination centres, I’d class Buloke as the clear front runners in Victoria when it comes to vaccination,” Ms Cupper said.

“Your actions speak louder than words, and I’m incredibly proud.

“I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen in my electorate, and across Victoria – be like Buloke, as once again this community is showing us how it’s done.”