Brendan Simpkins

SOUTH Australia’s third regional vaccination hub opened on Monday, with the Gawler vaccination clinic opening its doors for appointments as a growing cluster emerged.

But it came at the expense of the previous vaccination clinic at Tanunda Hospital, which has since been shut down.

Gawler’s clinic at the Homemaker Centre in Evanston, in the space formerly occupied by Dreamland next to Super Cheap Auto, has greater capabilities than the Tanunda Hospital clinic, allowing for up to 150 appointments a day to help meet demand.

But for those aged between 16 and 59 hoping to receive a Pfizer dose, they will be in for a wait.

Appointments to receive Pfizer were unavailable until August 29, with the next available date after that September 12, when The Bunyip viewed online bookings on Monday afternoon.

By contrast, there were plenty of available appointments to receive AstraZeneca for those above 60.

An SA Health spokesperson told The Bunyip that all existing bookings for the previous Tanunda Hospital clinic had now been transferred to Gawler.

Text messages had been sent to some people who had booked for Tanunda, but others have told The Bunyip they had not yet been notified of the change.

Premier Steven Marshall this month announced the hub alongside two others, based at Victor Harbor and Mount Barker.

Both the Victor Harbor and Mount Barker clinics have been operating for weeks.

The Gawler clinic is open from 8.30am to 4pm, seven days a week, and offers appointments for Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses.

A spokesperson from Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network said South Australia was “continuing to make steady progress on our vaccine rollout”.

“The additional Gawler vaccination clinic will help meet demand and allow more local residents in Gawler and surrounding communities access this important vaccine, closer to home,” the spokesperson said.

“...bookings are essential and we encourage eligible people to make a booking, roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated.

“The regional clinics will play a key part in rolling out the vaccine to more regional people in the community and helping ensure we can keep ourselves, our loved ones and the community safe and protected.”

Bookings can be made by visiting www.covidvaccine.sa.gov.au or by calling 0468 576 150.