RESIDENTS in a Ballarat facility hit by COVID-19 were the first to receive vaccine against the deadly virus under Ballarat Health Services' roll-out program.
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BHS has made clear aged care residents are top of the vaccine schedule, starting with Bill Crawford Lodge where a staff member unknowingly introduced the virus last July.
Five cases, including the worker who self-isolated at first symptoms, were identified and contained at the dementia facility between July 17-20.
BHS emergency management lead Don Garlick said about 400 residents from the city's 10 public aged care facilities would receive their first Pfizer vaccine shot by the week's end.
Jabs for high-risk healthcare workers to start next week.
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The aged care process is the first major undertaking for the Ballarat hospital vaccination hub, which officially launched on Monday in Ballarat and Bendigo.
Private aged care is a Commonwealth government responsibility.
The Courier understands one Ballarat private aged care facility received vaccinations on Friday after cancellations to at least two major facilities.
More vaccinations in Ballarat private care continued on Monday.
BHS remains looking to secure a mass vaccination site that will be the central focus for public phase roll-outs. The health service has identified about 2000 high-priority staff for the phase 1a roll-out, which will include aged care staff and high-risk frontline hospital staff.
Ballarat's COVID-19 vaccinations in aged care follow a week-long trial in Geelong's Barwon Health facilities.