Health leaders celebrate huge turnout at Broome’s COVID-19 vaxathon

Broome upped the ante in a push to get more Kimberley people vaccinated against COVID-19 last week, with more than 1000 people receiving the jab across a two-day vaxathon. The Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service’s Broome vaxathon was open to people over 12-years-old, to receive their first or second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. In a massive community effort, close to 500 vaccinations were delivered on the first day of the event, with even more people receiving the jab on the second day. KAMS chief executive Vicki O’Donnell said more than 1000 people were vaccinated across the two days. “This has demonstrated we can come together and work in a collaborative way in the best interest of the Broome community to keep everyone safe from COVID-19,” she said. “We encourage all towns to have vaxathons like this across the Kimberley to protect our whole community.” It comes as 82 per cent of eligible adults in the Djarindjin Community have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and young people aged 12 and over have begun getting their vaccinations. Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Nathan McIvor said people in remote communities across WA should seriously consider getting vaccinated. “If they don’t they are really going to suffer,” he said. “It is not a matter of if the virus comes here, it is a matter of when the virus comes here.” The event was a collaborative effort between KAMS, BRAMS, Kimberley Population Health Unit, Royal Flying Doctors Service, Kimberley Pharmacy Services, Nirrumbuk and Goolarri.