MR PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations)

I acknowledge to the house the enthusiastic and rapid response to the Voices for Vaccine campaign from residents in my electorate of Werribee.

Wyndham has been hit hard during several COVID outbreaks, in 2020 and in 2021.

My electorate is home for many essential workers, who cannot work from a desk at home.

We are a young community who haven’t been eligible to be vaccinated until recently.

With vaccine supply now becoming available, and eligibility opening up to the younger cohort, Wyndham hasn’t held back on doing their part to help protect fellow Victorians.

Wyndham has enthusiastically embraced the local vaccination hub made available at Eagle Stadium in my electorate.

I thank the dedicated staff at Western Health and our public health team for operating this hub and Wyndham council for making this facility available.

I also thank local doctors and pharmacists who have supported our residents in providing the vaccination at their clinics, and I’m pleased that our government has provided financial support to help facilitate this.

I particularly thank the residents of Wyndham.

As of 4 October, Wyndham has reached a first dose vaccination rate of 89.2 per cent. We are now among the highest first dose vaccinated LGAs in Victoria.

As soon as the vaccine became available, I’m proud that locals have taken the opportunity and stepped up to be vaccinated to support our health system, to look after each other and to protect all Victorians.

I look forward to the continued uptake of the vaccination in Wyndham and across Victoria so we can get back to a COVID-normal life as soon as possible.