General News
20 January, 2022
Vaccination rates take off in the Northern Peninsula
THE Northern Peninsula region has had a strong boost in vaccination records over the past three months, with the help of the Community Champions Campaign.
The campaign began in November and was funded by community-owned indigenous organisation Bamaga Enterprises Ltd.
It was then undertaken by the Torres Strait and Cape Hospital and Health Services Indigenous COVID19 Vaccination and Engagement Team.
The aim of the campaign is to increase vaccine rates in the Northern Peninsula communities, with the vaccination rate only 38 per cent when it started.
Campaign team leader Hylda Wapau said she was glad to see more people rolling up their sleeves to protect the community.
“The rate for the Northern Peninsula Area now is about 63 per cent fully vaccinated and 84 per cent with at least one dose of vaccine,” she said.
“This has been a phenomenal improvement and I would like to thank our highly respected local champions who were instrumental to our success – Cliff ord Wasiu, Jeff rey Aniba and Reginald Williams.”
Because the Community Champions were able to speak the traditional Torres Strait Island language of Kala Kawa Ya (KKY), they were able to take a more cultural approach to family hierarchies.
