The Goulburn Valley Public Health Unit, which includes Benalla Health, has celebrated one year since its COVID-19 vaccination program commenced on March 10, 2021.

Since then, the GV Health vaccination program has administered over 210,000 COVID-19 vaccinations within the GV Health local public health unit (LPHU) catchment area. This equates to 65% of people aged 16 and over receiving three doses, and 51% of children aged 5-11 receiving their first doses, across the LPHU.

The COVID-19 vaccinations have been delivered at GV Health’s vaccination hub in Shepparton; five public health services sub-hubs at Mansfield District Hospital, Kilmore District Health, NCN Health – Cobram, Seymour Health and Kyabram District Health Service; and via mobile outreach including on the two vaccination buses, Maxine Vaccine and Jabba the Bus.

The GV LPHU catchment area includes the Greater Shepparton, Moira, Benalla, Strathbogie, Mitchell, Mansfield, Murrindindi and part of the Campaspe Shire areas.
“We are very happy to be celebrating our one year ‘vacciversary’”, said Dr Helen Roberts, medical lead for the GV Health COVID-19 vaccination program.

“We have achieved so much in the last year – from setting up the Vaccination Hub at the McIntosh Centre in Shepparton, administering our first COVID-19 vaccination a year ago, working with the health services in the region to establish the sub-hubs, achieving 2,000 and now over 200,000 vaccinations delivered across the LPHU, and launching the two vaccination buses – which were firsts in Australia at the time.”

“Obviously we couldn’t have achieved these milestones without the positive support of the community, right across our LPHU, which we are truly grateful for.”

COVID-19 vaccinations are available for people aged 5 and above at the Vaccination Hub at the McIntosh Centre in Shepparton – simply walk in or make a booking on 1800 675 398 or at coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine. In addition, the vaccination buses – Jabba the Bus and Maxine Vaccine - are currently delivering COVID-19 vaccinations right across the LPHU; their schedule can be found at: http://www.gvhealth.org.au/covid-19/vaxbus/