An extra facility has just opened at the Bairnsdale City Oval off Dalmahoy Street offering residents the Pfizer or AstraZeneca injections. 
Under the management of Bairnsdale Regional Health Service (BRHS) the service will be open from 9am to 3.30pm today and Thursday, and next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, as Monday is a public holiday. 
Deborah Lynch was one of the first in line on Tuesday morning for her Pfizer injection.
“It’s worth coming in, waiting patiently for this injection as it is one step closer to getting the freedoms we all hope for to be reunited with family again,” Mrs Lynch said.
“My youngest child has never even seen her grandparents and at the moment we all rely on video calls to America to keep in touch.”
BRHS has provided the COVID vaccine at Bairnsdale Hospital since the beginning of May, to at risk groups as specified by the Department of Health and Human Services − including frontline workers, aged care staff, emergency department staff and others in the 1a and 1b groups.
The new vaccination clinic marks the first opportunity BRHS has had to provide the vaccine to the broader community.
“It’s terrific that people in the Bairnsdale area now have another local option to get their vaccine,” BRHS chief executive officer, Robyn Hayles, said.
“Immunisation is an essential part of our defence against COVID. I think everyone is starting to realise there are two ways to protect our community from this deadly virus.
“One is mask wearing and lockdowns and all of the restrictions we’ve been living with. The other is getting the vaccine.
“By getting your COVID vaccine you’re not only protecting yourself and your community, you’re also helping Victoria get back to the normal we all miss very much.”
Priority groups for vaccination at the clinic include aged care and disability workers, Ambulance Victoria staff, police and other emergency service workers, and people with disability.
For more information about priority groups see the BRHS coronavirus webpage, in particular for daily updates on the days and hours of service.
To make a booking, call the National COVID booking hotline.
Ms Hales said if you can’t get through in the first instance try again as the lines can be busy and this is the only way to book your specified time slot.  People can present as a ‘walk in’ at the entrance but need to remember to have time as bookings are prioritised.
Ms Hales said the clinic would extend its opening days and hours based on demand.

IMAGE: Mitch Meade from East Gippsland Asset Protection ensuring all is in order for entry into the facility as Deborah Lynch waits for her entry time.