Ballarat's Indigenous population continues to boast the highest vaccination rate in regional Victoria, according to the most recent data released by the federal government.
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Almost 89 per cent of First Nations people aged 15 and over in the Ballarat local government area have received two doses, up from 78 per cent six weeks ago, with close to 92 per cent having received their first jab.
State-wide, Ballarat is running second in the vaccination stakes, with Melbourne's Inner East local government area leading overall with over 92 per cent of its Indigenous population fully vaccinated.
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Meanwhile, well over 80 per cent of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over in Victoria are now fully vaccinated.
Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC) practice manager Paul Kochskamper said BADAC was "extremely proud" of the result.
"Those high rates are really pleasing to see," Mr Kochskamper said. "I want to thank our mob, our community, for arming up and getting our first, second and booster doses."
"We've had partnerships with VACCHO [Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation] and that's where we're really hitting some runs - we're all working collectively together."
Notably, the figures - published shortly before Christmas - do not shed light on the vaccination status of those aged under 15 years who are eligible to be vaccinated, notwithstanding the fact vaccine eligibility was extended to Indigenous children aged 12 years and above in early August last year.
Based on BADAC's own data, which spans all age groups eligible for a coronavirus vaccine, just 70 per cent of Ballarat's Indigenous population is fully vaccinated. On the other hand, it's unclear how accurate that figure is, given some local Indigenous people might have received a vaccine somewhere other than the BADAC clinic.
Melbourne University epidemiologist Nancy Baxter said the comparatively lower vaccination rates among Indigenous populations were concerning given coronavirus, whatever the strain, typically posed a more acute health risk to Indigenous people.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations generally have a higher risk of both getting covid and suffering serious complications from covid," Professor Baxter said.
"Multi-generational families living in the one household are, by virtue of the virus' known transmission patterns, more likely to be exposed to covid. We also know many Indigenous people tend to have pre-existing co-morbid conditions, making them more likely to suffer complications from covid.
"And, added to that burden is the challenge of receiving adequate medical care if they do get covid, because many Indigenous people live in rural or remote areas that aren't necessarily as well serviced."
Citing the threat posed by the recent explosion in cases caused by the Delta-Omicron wave, Mr Kochskamper said it was critical First Nations people continued to prioritise their vaccination.
"Every new strain, whether Delta or Omicron, is a concern," he said.
"That's why we're still urging our community to come in and get their vaccine whether it'd be their first, or second, or their booster shot. Because in the end that's the best way we're going to protect ourselves and our elders."
BADAC is currently accepting vaccination bookings for children aged 5 to 11 years in preparation for the January 10 commencement date.
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