Macquarie Fields MP Anoulack Chanthivong is calling on the NSW Government to utilise the new, purpose-built South Western Sydney mass vaccination centre in Macquarie Fields to vaccinate local Year 12 students.
This follows the Liberal Government’s last-minute decision to scrap plans to transport students via bus to Qudos Bank Arena in Olympic Park, with students now expected to make their own way to the centre.
“It defies logic to make students travel 50 kilometres or more from south western Sydney – currently a hot-spot – when we have an excellent vaccination centre available locally,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“This would significantly reduce travel times and help limit exposure at a time when we need to be doing whatever we can to get on top of this outbreak.”
Unfortunately, communication for Year 12 students has been inconsistent, causing additional stress to students and their parents.
“Sadly, I expect that some of our more disadvantaged students would unlikely make the journey to Olympic Park and not get vaccinated at all,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“An easy solution would be to enable Year 12 students who live in the Campbelltown and Liverpool local government areas to be vaccinated at the new Macquarie Fields hub.”
Open from 8am to 7pm, the recently opened South Western Sydney mass vaccination centre at Glenquarie Centre is set to to deliver up to 5,000 jabs a day.
“Easy and convenient access to vaccinations is vital to ensuring more jabs in arms and greater protection for everyone in our community,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“Let local students be vaccinated locally to help protect us all.”
