Sharon Webb

A COVID vaccination clinic at the Community Complex in Deloraine is churning through locals two at a time as part of the Tasmanian push to vaccinate people over 50 gathers speed.

During the election Liberal Party leader Peter Gutwein announced that from May the government would fast track the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine to over 50s in state run clinics, with GPs to follow soon after.

But in the Meander Valley over 50s started vaccinations two weeks earlier.

The government began to contact individuals by phone, asking them to come to the State Community Clinic at Alveston Drive with just a few days’ notice.

In Deloraine, a room in the Rotary Pavilion is divided into two. One side is for people waiting for the vaccination and the other side is for people waiting the obligatory 15 minutes after the vaccination.

After filling out a form, mostly about allergies and existing health conditions, people are vaccinated in a screened-off area.

Julia Hawthorn of Red Hills hardly noticed the jab.

‘Is it done already?’ she asked.

People leave the centre with information about what to expect after vaccination, common and less common side effects to look out for.

This includes information about the rare blood clotting side effect.

Nurses also give those vaccinated a phone number to call if they have a strong reaction, a date for their follow-up jab and a lollipop.

Anyone over 50 can now book their vaccination in a state clinic or with their GP.