Staff jet off to Lord Howe Island with Pfizer vaccines

A very special delivery of COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines has made its way to Lord Howe Island, in the safe hands of nursing staff from our District. SESLHD is responsible for providing the COVID-19 vaccination program on the Island, in consultation with general practice (GP) services and the Island board. 
 
Emma Hayes, Clinical Nurse Educator and Tim Matthews, Registered Nurse, from the St George Hospital Vaccination Hub flew to the Island on Friday 9 July, taking with them specially insulated eskies full of vaccines. They join Dr San Clarke, registered nurses Craig ‘Scruffy’ Smith and Carolyn Campbell, and administration team members Roslyn Hiscox and Sharon Whitfield, in coordinating the Island vaccination clinic.
 
With 320 residents and temporary workers of Lord Howe Island registered to receive their first dose of the vaccine, anticipation was high when the vaccination hub opened its doors on Monday 12 July at the GP clinic in the Gower Wilson Memorial Hospital. 
 
Island resident Dorothea Wilson was the first person to receive a vaccination, administered by Dr Clarke, and by the end of the week-long clinic around 90 per cent of eligible people (aged 16 and over) had received their first shot.
 
“The vaccination roll-out on Lord Howe has been one of the most exciting public health endeavours I've worked on to date,” Dr Clarke said. “The team here – both local and blow-ins – have pulled out all the stops to be enthusiastic, professional, fun, and safe. There has been an intoxicating momentum around the build-up, and the community have welcomed the opportunity – many expressing their gratitude openly. And because this is Lord Howe, we have cake. Always, we have cake (even when it's eaten behind a mask under social distancing rules)."
 
St George Vaccination Hub staff will return to the Island from 2 August to help with the administration of the residents’ second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. SESLHD manage the health needs of the residents and visitors to Lord Howe Island, via the Gower Wilson Memorial Hospital. 
 
During peak periods the Island relies on tourism which has been greatly impacted by COVID-19. The commencement of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program is another step forward in protecting Islanders and their community.