Goya Dmytryshchak
A vaccination ‘surge centre’ has been established at Altona Badminton Centre in Altona North, with the first round of vaccinations on Saturday.
Vaccinations will take place from 8am-11.30am at the centre, located at 217 Mason Street.
It will operate for at least one month.
It is led by the Commonwealth Vaccination Centre run by Mukesh Haikerwal and staffed by local doctors, nurses and pharmacists.
The centre will offer Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines to people aged 12 and over.
Hobsons Bay mayor Jonathon Marsden said the move aimed to combat growing local cases.
“The Altona North and Newport communities are now dealing with over 130 active COVID cases and in Hobsons Bay we have more than 80 exposure sites,” he said.
“This is a grave concern for residents and council.
“I thank the vast majority of our community who are doing the right thing – getting early testing, isolating, and following COVIDSafe rules and adhering to the restrictions.
“We know vaccine doses need to be shared across the state but there is a critical urgency to increase availability in Hobsons Bay to help contain this current outbreak.
“We are grateful for the support of the Victorian Government to provide vaccine doses and other support to make the surge centre possible.”
Bookings are essential and can be made via healthengine.com.au/book/86832.
