| posted on March 4, 2021
AN ALBANY resident was among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the Great Southern Region yesterday.
Former Royal Australian Regiment soldier Timothy D’Arcy rolled up his sleeve at the Baptistcare Bethel Residential Aged Care facility in Albany to get the Pfizer vaccine.
The 85-year-old former solider said he felt comfortable receiving the vaccine after having many vaccinations during his active service between 1955-57 in Malaysia.
Mr D’Arcy said he had faith the Australian Government’s vaccine program was designed to keep people safe and protected.
“If we want our country and our world to go back to normal, we all need to step up and get vaccinated against COVID-19,” he said.
Baptistcare CEO Russell Bricknell said they had been receiving high rates of requests for the vaccine across their 12 residential care facilities.
“It is pleasing to see so many residents wanting to receive the jabs as soon as they have become available,” he said.
“Facilitating the rollout of the vaccines on-site at our facilities is another way we can keep the people in our care safe and healthy.”
Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is available for some Albany residents, pharmacists are urging people to schedule a flu vaccine 14 days prior to their COVID-19 vaccination this year.
TerryWhite Chemist on Chester Pass Road is encouraging people to not become complacent this flu season by making both the flu and COVID-19 vaccinations a priority in fighting the different viruses.
“People should not be lulled into a false sense of complacency about the influenza virus,” Terry- White Chemmart Chester Pass Albany Pharmacist Brad Smithson.
“It is highly infectious, and it is important for people to continue get- ting vaccinated and to plan now so they can be vaccinated for both the flu and COVID-19 in a timely manner.
“In all cases, the flu vaccination should be given at least 14 days apart from any dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.”
