The NT Chief Minister says he fears the annual deluge — which sees many remote communities isolated for months at a time — could hamper the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations in remote areas.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner says Northern Territory health authorities could have just three months to vaccinate people living in remote communities across the Top End before they become isolated by heavy wet-season rain.Wet season rains can limit access to some areasHe said he was not confident supply chains would be able to deliver Pfizer shots — the vaccine the government is using in Indigenous communities — to remote areas once the downpours began.
Many Top End communities can become only accessible by air for months at a time during the wet season, which officially begins in October and lasts until April."I'm extremely worried about making sure I get enough vaccine into arms prior to the wet season making freight and logistics difficult."As you get into November/December, I can't say with confidence I'll be able to get Pfizer into remote Top End communities.
Figures from late last week show about 37 per cent of remote Territorians have had at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, compared to a Territory-wide rate of 46 per cent.NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner says the fast-approaching wet season could pose a challenge to the vaccine rollout. Mr Gunner said the upcoming challenges of the Territory's remote rollout was one reason he joined otherfrom New South Wales for extra Pfizer doses during a National Cabinet meeting last week.
"You don't know with coronavirus where it's going to strike or when it's going to strike next — you just don't know," Mr Gunner said.
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