Aboriginal elders in the Riverina have described a near 20 per cent gap in COVID-19 vaccination rates behind non-Indigenous people as "dreadful" and urged everyone to get their jabs.
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New federal health data shows that 41.34 per cent of Indigenous people in the Riverina aged over 15 had at least one vaccine shot as of August 30 and 20.32 per cent were fully vaccinated with two shots.
As of the same time, the Riverina's population as a whole had 60.3 per cent of people with one shot and 35.4 fully vaccinated.
Wiradjuri Elder Uncle James Ingram said Indigenous people needed to contact their Aboriginal medical service and book a vaccination without delay.
"This COVID doesn't discriminate and it's in our best interest, as First Nations people, to get vaccinated as you only need to have a look at what's happening at Walgett and Wilcannia.
"Here in Wagga, we really need to have a concerted push to get people vaccinated because COVID can put you in hospital or even kill you."
Uncle James said he had been vaccinated and so had his family members.
"I didn't experience any side effects and I was pretty happy with it and so was my wife," he said.
Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Isabel Reid was also concerned at the lower rates of vaccination.
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"It's not good at all. I'm not sure why why [there's a gap in vaccination rates], whether they are not coming forward or whether they don't know or there isn't enough information out there for them," she said.
"I don't want it to be like Dubbo at the moment. Wagga has been pretty safe but people have to do the right thing as we don't know how long this COVID will last.
"I got my vaccine when they first came out and I've always encouraged people to get theirs."
There are as estimated 3740 Indigenous people in the Riverina who have not received any COVID-19 vaccines.
Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation (RivMed) said it had secured ongoing weekly delivery of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines and community resources.
Rivmed nurse practitioner immuniser Leigh Spokes said 50 to 60 people were booked in to have their vaccine at the clinic's expanded opening day on Saturday.
"It's an extension of our clinic and we've had an excellent response," she said.
"Children are coming in, but maybe a bit reluctant because they don't like needles.
"I'm happy to talk to people to explain about the vaccination."
Chief executive Cherrie Glasson said the RivMed's vaccination clinic appointments were now 100 per cent booked and catch-up clinics would be set up once more vaccine doses arrived.
"We can learn a lot from the experiences of our families from Bourke, Wilcannia and Dubbo. This virus is a serious threat to our communities and will have devastating and ongoing consequences if we are not prepared as a community, an organisation, or as individuals working for our people and their families," Ms Glasson said.
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