Access to COVID-19 vaccination made easier with pop-up clinics
As the vaccination program in the Barwon South West region hits an impressive milestone reaching >95% double dose of the eligible population, access to vaccination has been made easier thanks to local pop-up clinics featuring language support.
The Barwon Health South West Public Health Unit (BSWPHU) in partnership with Diversitat, has now supported ten vaccination pop-up clinics with language support at Diversitat’s Northern Hub.
Each clinic, which has supported a different culturally and linguistic diverse (CALD) group, has been fully booked which has been a wonderful showcase of the Geelong community coming forward to protect each other.
Barwon Health’s vaccination operations Manager Deb Kay believes this partnership has helped ensure people feel comfortable and supported when receiving their vaccination.
“Working with partners like Diversitat is key to reaching vulnerable communities in our region. The local community have been amazing at coming forward and getting vaccinated with all of our Diversitat clinics fully booked,” she said.
To improve support for Geelong’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, Barwon Health and Diversitat have also collaborated to develop tools aimed at encouraging people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The tools include a video translated into eight languages explaining how to book a vaccination and what happens during an appointment, as well as information sessions hosted by public health experts and supported by interpreters for newly-arrived and culturally diverse groups within the region.
PHOTO: Geelong Afghan community member Ameneh Hussaini receives vaccination at Diversitat pop-up clinic.
PHOTO: A snapshot of the community memebers who rolled up their sleeves on the day.