Queensland nurse first COVID-19 jab recipient
Gold Coast nurse Zoe Park has turn out to be the first individual in Queensland to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine, nearly 400 days because the first case was recorded within the state.
About 180 frontline employees will obtain their first dose of the Pfizer inoculation on the Gold Coast University Hospital on Monday.
Ms Park, who works within the COVID-19 ward, mentioned she felt “a lot safer going to work” now she had the shot.
Read Next
“It’s a very exciting time for all healthcare workers in Queensland,” she mentioned.
“And it didn’t hurt at all … I hardly felt it. The flu shot hurt a lot more.”
Alongside Ms Park was Owen Hortz, the Gold Coast police inspector answerable for town’s resort quarantine services, and scientific nurse Kellie Kenway, who will likely be administering the vaccines.
More than 1000 persons are set to obtain the needle this week, with vaccinations to start on the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane on Wednesday and in Cairns on Friday.
The state’s chief well being officer mentioned Ms Park’s jab was a “historic moment” within the battle towards the pandemic.
“One down, four million minus one to go,” Dr Jeannette Young mentioned.
“We need every single adult Queenslander 18 and older to get vaccinated as quickly as we can.
“The first target is the most crucial. The 37,000 who work in our hotels and on the front line.”
Dr Young mentioned she was hopeful the state might “rapidly ramp up” to 10,000 vaccinations every week.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath mentioned it had been 391 days since Queensland had its first case of COVID-19 admitted on the Gold Coast hospital.
At least 125,000 Queenslanders will likely be vaccinated below class 1a, which covers frontline well being employees, border and resort quarantine workers, and aged care residents and workers.
It comes as two new circumstances had been detected within the state’s the resort quarantine services in a single day.
“That is why our first vaccination priority group is those working in the front line. Our borders and hotel quarantine workers and those here at our hospitals working in the COVID wards managing patients with COVID,” Ms D’Ath mentioned.
“COVID will be here for a long time … To keep five million Queenslanders safe, we need you to get vaccinated.”
Dr Young, Ms D’Ath and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is not going to obtain their jab till stage 1b.
“We’re very keen to get it … But these people are our priority,” Ms D’Ath mentioned.
“We want to show the public we have absolute confidence … It is important we give these vaccines to our highest priority group.
“I have no criticism of the PM getting the vaccine. It is important he shows he has absolute confidence. We acknowledge that and welcome that, but this is a decision we have made.”
