When COVID-19 arrived in Goodooga and NSW's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples vaccination gap

31 August 2021

Professor James Ward, Director at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health at UQ, spoke to ABC Life Matters about COVID-19 vaccination rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Despite being one of the groups prioritised for the vaccine, COVID-19 vaccination rates for Indigenous Australians continue to lag in almost every state.

Then the virus spread as far as the town of Goodooga, just a few kilometres south of the Queensland border.

Some politicians have pointed to vaccine hesitancy as one of the reasons for low vaccination, but residents and health groups say access has been a far greater concern.

What needs to happen to ensure a consistent supply and targeted messaging that hits the mark?

Listen to the episode

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