Member for Mildura Ali Cupper has congratulated local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members for rolling up their sleeves to be vaccinated.
Over 50 per cent of the North West region’s Indigenous population aged 15+ has received their first dose, and Ms Cupper has called for greater support for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) in delivering the COVID-19 vaccination roll out.
“The North West region has Victoria’s fourth biggest Indigenous population, and it is the second biggest in regional Victoria,” she said.
Based on the rate of vaccination since the beginning of September, more than 2,000 Indigenous people aged 15 and over in North West Victoria will have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of this month.
“That is an outstanding effort from our ACCHOs like Mallee District Aboriginal Services and Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-Op, but there is more to do,” Ms Cupper said.
The rate of COVID-19 vaccination in North West Victoria’s Indigenous population is lower than state and national averages.
Based on projections, our local Indigenous populations are not expected to reach 80 per cent double dosed until the end of January 2022, nearly three months after the broader population.
“Community representatives are telling me that there has been some hesitancy about getting vaccinated,” Ms Cupper said.
“It has mainly been caused by mixed messaging about the eligibility and safety criteria for the AstraZeneca vaccine, and a lack of dedicated and early planning with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations for the vaccine rollout.”
Ms Cupper believes with the right government support, local ACCHOs can bring vaccination rates for Indigenous communities into line with the broader community.
“Our ACCHOs know their community, and ultimately, Aboriginal people are the experts in their own health, and our governments need to recognise that and respond accordingly.”
“I want to see both State and Federal Governments providing ACCHOs with more funding for locally produced resources like TV and print advertising, and providing them with more certainty around vaccine supplies, especially with the new Moderna vaccine coming online,” she said.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members are encouraged to contact Mallee District Aboriginal Services on 1800 183 593, Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-Op on (03) 5026 4501 or Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation on (03) 5027 4824 to book in for their vaccination.
