Another COVID-19 vaccination milestone was achieved last week with more than 500,000 doses administered across the north-east of Melbourne since the vaccination rollout began. 

Dr Janine Trevillyan, clinical lead for the rollout of the vaccination program for the north-eastern Melbourne metropolitan region, says she is incredibly grateful to everyone who has rolled up their sleeve to get the jab.

“It’s fantastic to think that half a million vaccines have passed through the Austin hub and been administered to Victorians since the program started,” she says.

“It represents a huge collaborative effort by so many people, the likes of which we have never attempted before.”

About 150,000 vaccines had been administered at Austin Health’s vaccination clinics and the remainder by vaccination teams across Eastern Health, Northern Health, St Vincent’s Health and the Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.

“The past few weeks have confirmed for us that we can’t avoid COVID forever – when the decision to end lockdowns is made, all of us need to be vaccinated so that we don’t end up in hospital, and most importantly, don’t end up in intensive care,” Janine says.

“All of the COVID vaccines are incredibly safe and effective at protecting you against COVID. It’s important to remember, that no matter what you have heard about side effects from the vaccine, catching COVID is much, much worse.”