An official South Australian Department for Human Services clinic wrongly expanded access for the Pfizer jab on Monday, with hundreds of young people rushing to book themselves in at the Highgate Park site.Human Services SA acknowledged the error on Monday evening and said it had since been rectified, with all booking made for this week to be honoured.The department said Highgate Park, in Fullarton in Adelaide’s south, was established as a dedicated vaccine clinic to ensure those who work in the disability and aged care sector could access the jab.Normally, when people arrive at the clinic they are required to provide evidence that they work in the sectors with items such as a pay slip, work ID or a letter from their employer.“For a few hours (on Monday), an error allowed anyone over the age of 18 to make a booking at the Highgate Park Covid-19 vaccine clinic,” the Human Services SA statement said.“The error has now been rectified. “All bookings made for this week will be honoured, including those vaccinated (on Monday) and requiring a second dose. “All others will be contacted to check eligibility.”But some people who managed to snap up an appointment claimed it wasn’t an error but staff were instead worried about excess vaccines expiring.“Plenty of people called to confirm and were told it was because they have an excess of vaccines that will expire,” one woman said.Another man said a lady at the clinic told him over the phone it was due to excess stock compared with the demand.Human Services SA urged anyone working in the disability and aged care sector to come forward and be vaccinated immediately.People aged 40 years old and older are eligible for a Pfizer vaccination in SA, while those aged 16 years and older and living in regional areas are also eligible.South Australians aged under 40 years of age can access an AstraZeneca jab through their GP.About 22 per cent of South Australians aged 16 and older have been fully vaccinated, while almost 44 per cent have received one dose.jack.paynter@news.com.au
Powered by WPeMatico
