Ash Bolt
Barwon Health is set to reach a major milestone in its vaccination program, with the doors at the former Ford Factory hub set to close this next week.
Staff at the hub will relocate to a smaller hub in Belmont as vaccination dose numbers decline due to the region’s high fully-vaccinated status.
Located in the former civic function centre at the rear of the Belmont Community Health Centre, the newly renamed Barwon Health Vaccination Centre will expand from offering flu vaccinations and immunisations to also provide COVID-19 vaccinations.
Barwon South West Public Health Unit co-director Deb Kay said the move was an indication of how far the community had come in the fight against COVID-19.
“Our community has responded very well to COVID-19 vaccinations, meaning there is only a very small group of people in the region currently unvaccinated. This means we are now able to down-size the program and the venue of our COVID-19 vaccines,” she said.
“Our immunisation team has been offering childhood immunisations and flu vaccinations here for a number of years so it is a natural progression for our COVID-19 vaccination team to make the move to bring vaccinations together in one location.”
Vaccination hub administration manager Jess Talbot believed the move was a major milestone for hub staff.
“We are excited to be moving to a smaller venue, as it means vaccination rates in our region are exceptional and our community has come together to protect each other and get vaccinated,” she said.
“I’m so proud of our staff that have been part of a historic vaccination rollout. We have all worked together to support each other throughout the past 12 months.”
The last vaccination at the former Ford Factory in Norlane will take place on Saturday, May 21, before the doors to the Barwon Health Vaccination Centre in Belmont open on Wednesday, May 25 at 8.45am.
The new location will continue to offer walk-ins and bookings for COVID-19 vaccinations for all people aged over five years.
Bookings for the centre can be made by calling 1800 675 398 or online at portal.cvms.vic.gov.au
