ACRRM urges rural communities to be COVID-19 vaccine champions

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) urges all people living in rural and remote communities to get a COVID vaccination as soon as they are able.

ACRRM President Dr Sarah Chalmers says: The College is confident the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has undertaken a rigorous review of the Pfizer and AstraZenica vaccines and the community can be confident that both vaccines are safe and effective.

“ACRRM continues to advocate strongly for equity of access to vaccination for rural health professionals and community members,” Dr Chalmers says. 

“The College continues to work with the Commonwealth Department of Health and state and territory counterparts to develop and implement immunisation policies and procedures which support our members to deliver the vaccine to the people who need it most.

“Our initial priority is to ensure rural and remote doctors are protected themselves, and that they receive the appropriate training and logistical support required to vaccinate people in the wider community in a timely and efficient manner.

Dr Chalmers says it’s important that rural Australians do not become complacent about COVID-19 and consequently neglect to get vaccinated.

“We know that an outbreak of COVID-19 can occur in any place, at any time and that relative isolation is not a reliable form of protection,” she continues.

“An outbreak of COVID-19, particularly in a rural community where there might be a number of vulnerable people or those with generally poorer health, could be devastating

“If we are to contain COVID-19, we need as many people as possible to be vaccinated.

“I encourage anyone who may have concerns about the vaccine to visit their GP for information.”

ACRRM will continue to play an important role working with government and stakeholder groups on the ongoing roll out of the vaccine and provide regular updates to its members.