Page 2390 - Week 08 - Thursday, 5 August 2021
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MS DAVIDSON: I thank Mr Braddock for the question. Justice Health Services has been working quite closely with the Canberra Health Services vaccination coordination team and also with ACT Corrective Services to facilitate a rollout of vaccinations at the AMC. It is very important that we make sure that people who are most at risk in our community have access to vaccines.
The vaccine rollout at the AMC commenced on 1 June this year as part of stage 1b of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. As of 27 July, 55 per cent of people in the AMC were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and a slightly higher percentage had had their first dose.
Ongoing COVID-19 vaccination clinics are being conducted each fortnight to vaccinate new people who are coming into the AMC. When people are released, if that happens prior to receiving their second dose, they are being provided with information about where they can get their second dose of the vaccine so that we can ensure that their health needs are covered. People who are in the AMC are invited to have a vaccine. They can choose not to have it, but so far people in the AMC have been very appreciative of having the ability to be vaccinated.
MR BRADDOCK: Minister, can you provide an update on the vaccinations for First Nations people who are detained in the AMC?
MS DAVIDSON: People in the AMC who access their primary health services through Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service are also included in the vaccine rollout, and they are able to access their vaccination while they are at the AMC through Winnunga.
Having personally talked to the clinical staff at both Justice Health and Winnunga, the staff there have really appreciated being able to provide this level of care to people who are in the AMC. They are very appreciative of being able to get access to the vaccines and make sure that people at risk are protected. I want to thank Justice Health and Winnunga for doing all that they can to make sure that people are offered the opportunity to be vaccinated while they are there.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Davis.
MR DAVIS: Minister, when will the vaccine rollout in the AMC be completed?
MS DAVIDSON: The first round was completed on 9 June, which was only eight days after it started. The second round of vaccinations commenced on 29 June. Because people come and go from the AMC—people are released and new people come in—that is why it is important that Justice Health are able to run fortnightly clinics, so that new people coming in are able to receive their first vaccination, and also why it is so important that if people are released before they have time to have a second vaccination they are connected up with health services in the community.
One of the great things about Winnunga is that people who are in the AMC can continue to see Winnunga for their ongoing health care after they are released. That is
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