Bunnings offers to host mass vaccination hubs in its car parks


Bunnings has offered to transform its car parks into vaccination hubs to speed up the Covid jab rollout.

The Australian government has faced heavy criticism about the botched vaccine program that fell three million jabs short of the four million target by the end of March. 

In a further blow, health authorities announced that the AstraZeneca vaccine – the backbone of the rollout – should only be given to people above 50 due to the risk of blood clotting.

While Covid-19 vaccines are currently only available at medical centres, Bunnings’ chief operating officer Deb Poole said on Thursday that the hardware giant would offer its facilities to the government if requested to hasten the process. 

Bunnings car parks (pictured) could be used as vaccine hubs to help the Australian government's rollout

Bunnings car parks (pictured) could be used as vaccine hubs to help the Australian government’s rollout

Experts say using the hardware giant's facilities to administer vaccines could help normalise the jab (pictured: a nurse getting the vaccine at a medical centre)

Experts say using the hardware giant’s facilities to administer vaccines could help normalise the jab (pictured: a nurse getting the vaccine at a medical centre)

‘We’ve previously supported the government and the community by hosting Covid-19 testing in some of our store car parks and we’re always open to discussing further support directly with the government,’ Ms Poole told The Guardian.

Health experts backed the proposal and suggested that hosting mass vaccination centres in busy hubs like Bunnings – which also hosts community sausage sizzles in its car parks – could encourage more people to get the jab.

‘Everyone in the population seems to end up at Bunnings with some frequency …they’re convenient for people to get to,’ La Trobe University epidemiologist Hassan Vally told the publication.

‘Most people haven’t seen a vaccination occur in person, so if you’re going into a Bunnings a few times and you keep passing the vaccinations, then the next time you’re on your way out with your potting mix, you’ll go up and ask.’   

Bunnings also uses its car parks to host sausage sizzles. Pictured: The line at a Bunnings sausage sizzle

Bunnings also uses its car parks to host sausage sizzles. Pictured: The line at a Bunnings sausage sizzle

Professor Catherine Bennett, who is the chair of epidemiology at Deakin University, said using the popular car parks as vaccine centres would help normalise the process for people living in suburban areas.

For the plan to be viable, she said health authorities would need to section off a sterile environment and provide an area for people to wait before and after the needle. 

Bunnings car parks have also been used as drive-through Covid testing centres throughout the pandemic. 

An inquiry heard this week only 6.5 per cent of disability care facility residents have received their jab, despite them being included in the first priority group of the vaccine rollout.

Bunnings car parks have also been used as drive-through Covid testing centres throughout the pandemic. Pictured: A Bunnings sausage sizzle

Bunnings car parks have also been used as drive-through Covid testing centres throughout the pandemic. Pictured: A Bunnings sausage sizzle

Chandi Piefke, from disability service provider Able Australia, accepted it was a massive task for governments, but the low figures were concerning.

‘We need to ensure our clients do receive the vaccine,’ she said.

‘Should they contract Covid they would be one of the groups highest at risk in terms of mortality rates.’

Victoria has moved to boost the initial phase with a number of large facilities, including Geelong’s former Ford factory, providing AstraZeneca shots for anyone over 70 with or without bookings as part of phase 1a and 1b of the national rollout.

Queensland says it won’t shift to mass vaccination centres until bulk supplies can be guaranteed, which it does not expect until the final three months of the year.

Trade Minister Dan Tehan is in Europe for talks on fast-tracking supplies of vaccines ordered by Australia, but yet to be delivered

Trade Minister Dan Tehan is in Europe for talks on fast-tracking supplies of vaccines ordered by Australia, but yet to be delivered

Trade Minister Dan Tehan is in Europe for talks on fast-tracking supplies of vaccines ordered by Australia, but yet to be delivered.

The hold-up on deliveries, as well as public concern about AstraZeneca vaccine links to blood clots, have been blamed for the slowness of the rollout.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, being imported and made by CSL in Melbourne, is being diverted to use in the over-50s group, while Pfizer will be used in the younger cohort.

While the federal government has commissioned a business case for a cutting edge mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Australia, Victoria announced on Wednesday it would spend $50 million to get such a project up and running.

‘Twelve months ago would have been the best time to have done this, but the next best time is right now,’ acting premier James Merlino said.

The Australian Medical Association says national cabinet should take specific action to reset the vaccination program.

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