Warrnambool healthcare providers are celebrating as the local community recorded at least 95 per cent double dose COVID-19 vaccination rate this week.
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The significant milestone takes the Warrnambool local government area into the top 10 per cent of the state for its high vaccination rate.
South West Healthcare (SWH) COVID co-ordinator Sue Anderton said Warrnambool was one of only nine LGAs in Victoria to reach the figure.
"It's a big achievement," Ms Anderton said. "A lot of work has gone into our vaccination rates. It's been a rollercoaster to say the least but we're all really proud.
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"This is a great result and reflects how our community has responded to the challenge of COVID. We know the best way out of this pandemic is vaccination and we have done our part."
The highest percentage recorded on the Australian Government vaccine roadmap website is 95 per cent.
Warrnambool reached single dose 95 per cent vaccinations in early October.
She said Moyne, Corangamite and Glenelg shires were only a few per cent behind, with each LGA more than 90 per cent double dose vaccinated. She expects they will each reach at least 95 per cent in the next week or so.
"Our community as a whole is pretty responsive to vaccination." she said. "I think once vaccination was available, each eligibility group came forward really quickly and we were able to get through a lot of people."
Ms Anderton said the uptake had exceeded original vaccine expectations, with the provider not anticipating to reach the vaccination target until next year.
"We thought we were going to be around for at least another six months, getting our first and second doses done," she said.
"We projected into next year so to get it done this quickly is such an achievement, not only for our vaccination centre, but the GP clinics and the regional sites as well.
"It's been a big team effort right across the region.
"I'm not sure we thought we'd get here this quickly."
Ms Anderton said while the vaccination centre would continue to operate by appointment, some of its staff would return to their usual roles in the coming weeks.
"We're looking at scaling back our staff back to the hospital," she said.
"It's great for our community, especially with the region opening up, it will be business as usual, and we include COVID in that. That's our plan."
SWH chief executive officer Craig Fraser thanked "the entire south west community" for its commitment to making our region as safe as possible.
"It is very clear, even in our recent outbreak, that being vaccinated ensures we can reduce the spread, allowing us to live our lives as normal," Mr Fraser said.
"Moving into summer will no doubt result in more people entering our region which is a great thing for our businesses. Having our communities so highly vaccinated will assist in keeping cases to a minimum." Mr Fraser said.
Warrnambool mayor Richard Ziegeler said it was a pleasing figure and he expected nothing less from the city's residents.
"Warrnambool responds to these things extremely well," Cr Ziegeler said.
"We're just as keen, and possibly keener than anywhere else, to do the right thing by our community and we want to make sure it's done properly.
"Everyone has done the right thing and we were really early leaders in the race to get vaccinated.
"It's incredibly heartening and I really feel very proud of the fact we are one of the nine LGA leaders around the state to show other people how it should be done," Cr Ziegeler said.
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