The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is holding "fly-in" vaccination clinics across northern and western South Australia over the next week-and-a-half to protect the state's most remote residents from COVID-19.
The first clinic was held on Monday and more clinics were held at Glendambo and Kingoonya and at two stations in the state's far north yesterday.
The RDFS's vaccination team is flying into the remote locations each day from Port Augusta.
Primary health care team manager Mandy Smallacombe the response to the clinics had been great
"Our bookings are growing every day and our phones haven't stopped ringing.
"Our communities know us and we certainly take pride in knowing our community members really well and all of their family and extended family."
To be eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a remote RFDS clinic, people need to be aged 16 or over, be an existing Royal Flying Doctor Service client or be a permanent resident of the clinic locations.
Clinics will be held in William Creek, Marla, Mungerannie, Arkaroola, Lyndhurst and Blinman this week and Marree and Oodnadatta next week.
The RFDS will then return to give people their second dose 21 days later.
North Well Station manager Lynly Kerin said the clinic was convenient and a good chance to catch up with neighbours all in one place.
"It's good for that, but it's also good to see other people coming in," she said.
Station worker Keely Blackburn said the clinic cut her drive to get a jab from up to seven hours to just one-and-a-half hours.
"Being out here and living in the middle of nowhere. we don't have the greatest immune systems so we have a higher chance of getting sick when we go into town, so it's easier for us to get vaccinated," she said.
All South Australians aged over 16 and living in regional areas are eligible for a COVID–19 vaccine.
Remote clinics are set up in Ceduna, Coober Pedy, Hawker, Leigh Creek, Roxby Downs and Quorn.
SA Health defines regional areas as anywhere outside Adelaide, including the Adelaide Hills and Gawler.
