Despite a few hiccups in Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, frontline workers at Westmead Hospital received their second doses, marking a new milestone in the quest to get back to ‘normal’.
Dante Canete, who was the first staff member to receive a COVID-19 vaccination at Westmead Hospital received his second dose of the vaccine yesterday.
The Westmead Hospital Emergency Department Nurse Unit Manager was eager to complete his COVID-19 vaccination after receiving the first jab three weeks ago.
Mr Canete said he was equally optimistic following his second at the Westmead Hospital Vaccination Hub.
“This is for the entire world; let us heal all together,” he said.
“I’m excited to have received the second jab and completed the vaccination process.
“Vaccination is a key step in healing together and getting back to our normal lives.”
As second doses of the vaccine begin to be administered at Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive, Graeme Loy said he is pleased with the process, having received the first dose himself.
“It’s great to be part of the response to this pandemic,” he said.
“Our health district has stood up to the challenges of COVID-19 and worked tirelessly to keep the community safe.
“From treating patients to running testing clinics and now vaccinating frontline workers, staff in western Sydney should be incredibly proud of their efforts.”
The Westmead Hospital vaccination hub has been operating 12 hours a day, five days a week, and the hub will ramp up operations to vaccinate more people as the rollout continues.
35,000 frontline workers in NSW have received the vaccine in the first three weeks of the rollout operation, with more vaccination hubs coming online at hospitals across the state.
A few bumps in the road have been met, with the latest including some European countries pausing their rollout of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Coronavirus vaccine, after some recipients reported blood clots.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the World Health Organisation assure the AstraZeneca vaccine, which began its rollout in Australia in February, is safe to use.
The Health Department Secretary, Professor Brendan Murphy confirmed recently that the phase-1b rollout of the vaccine is set to begin from March 22.
This phase involves 6.14 million Australians including people aged 70-years-old and over, healthcare workers yet to receive the vaccine, Indiginous Australians over 55-years-old and adults with some medical conditions.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccination in NSW, visit, https://bit.ly/3cErQgu
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.