A central COVID-19 vaccination clinic will open at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC) this Sunday following the arrival of 21,000 doses of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine.
WA Health’s PCEC clinic will add significant capacity to the State’s vaccination program, complementing clinics already operating at Perth Children’s Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital, Fiona Stanley Hospital and Bunbury Health Campus.
Clinics at further hospital and health campus sites will be opening up next week.
Staffed by around 40 nurses, pharmacists and medical administrators, the PCEC clinic will be open between 9am and 3pm on Sunday and into next week (times to be advised).
Anyone from Phase 1A who has not already had their vaccination can now book a spot at the PCEC.
In addition to those in 1A, the clinic will also be open to emergency service workers. On Sunday, this will be WA Police and Department of Fire and Emergency Services staff.
From Monday, other critical and high risk workers will be invited to book an appointment.
WA’s Chief Health Officer Dr Andrew Robertson said the clinic would be a game-changer – making the vaccine available sooner to more Western Australians.
"Now we have more vaccine doses available, we can scale up the vaccination rollout for Western Australians,” he said.
“We have used this approach before for H1N1 influenza in 2009 and we know it is a safe and streamlined way to maximise access to vaccinations.”
Dr Robertson said he expected thousands of Western Australians would have had their first dose of a TGA-approved vaccine by the end of the month.
“We are continuing to build our capacity, and while smaller sites will still be available, high-volume vaccination centres like this will play a key role – getting vaccines to people as effectively and efficiently as possible.”
The Department of Health continues to work with the Australian Government to deliver the wider roll out of the program at more locations across the State.
Since WA’s COVID-19 vaccination program started 5546 people have received their first dose of the vaccine.
For more information about the vaccination program visit: healthywa.wa.gov.au/COVID19vaccine or call 13 COVID (13 268 43).