A mobile clinic is providing COVID–19 vaccinations to hard-to-reach communities in Adelaide's southern suburbs, in another move to encourage people to have their shot.
For the next three weeks, ahead of Friday prayer, more than 300 South Australians will receive the COVID–19 vaccine at the Masjid Omar Bin Al-Khattab mosque on Marion Road in Park Holme.
The pop-up clinic is aiming to vaccinate both diverse and vulnerable communities around Adelaide.
The program is designed to encourage people 18 years and over to get the jab in a familiar environment, among their community, stamping out any vaccine hesitancy and spreading a positive health message.
Those who rolled up today were grateful to get the vaccine.
"Obviously, with all the fears with the vaccine, I think it's great they can come to a place where they feel that they're home, in a sense, to get the vaccine.
"Everyone has concerns at some point or another, but I think most of our friends and our community are quite excited to be able to get vaccinated."
Md Fuad Mannan said he was excited to get vaccinated because he hoped to eventually visit his father in Bangladesh.
"I feel like I got a certificate to move overseas or go anywhere I want," he said.
"My father lives overseas and I can't really go and see him — it's only just video calls — so that has impacted me, but I feel very fortunate that I am living in Adelaide, probably the best place to live in the world this moment."
More similar clinics being run
Health Minister Stephen Wade said he hoped the service could also support more groups who need assistance in getting the vaccine to their community.
"We are continuing to see more and more South Australians roll up their sleeves to get vaccinated, and our investment of $86 million in the upcoming state budget will continue to ensure that we can be flexible in giving more people access to the vital vaccine," Mr Wade said.
Next week, vaccines will also be offered at the Aboriginal Family Clinics in Clovelly Park and Noarlunga.
SA Health also plans to vaccinate Adelaide's homeless community in the coming months, said Catherine Hughes, who runs the COVID–19 program for the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network.
The clinic at Park Holme will run for six weeks, with both doses being administered at the Marion Road mosque.
The Islamic Society of South Australia has already asked the state government to extend the program so that the entire Islamic community in Adelaide's south can be offered the jab.
Society president Ahmed Zreika had been worried as few as 10 people might take up the offer to get vaccinated.
"We are actually very excited to be part of this mobile vaccination service to help our brothers and sisters get their COVID–19 vaccination in this early stage," Mr Zreika said.
SA Health has not yet decided if the program will return to the mosque but is considering the possibility.
Mass vaccination clinics are set up in Noarlunga, Elizabeth, the Women's and Children's Hospital in North Adelaide and at the Adelaide Showground in Wayville, as well as in dozens of smaller locations in regional areas, including on Kangaroo Island.
