The majority Aboriginal communities of western New South Wales are bracing for “a big challenge” as cases grow across the region and authorities scramble to lift low vaccination rates of Indigenous people.
Eight cases were recorded in Dubbo and two in Walgett until 8pm last night, but a further 15 people combined have tested positive to Covid since then.
NSW Health would not confirm how many of the new cases are Aboriginal people, citing privacy issues. However, “the majority” of those already reported are Aboriginal people, including children, according to the chief executive of western NSW local health district, Scott McLachlan.
The NSW Delta outbreak has already heavily affected Aboriginal people. Statewide, at least 60 of the current cases are Aboriginal people, and 80% of those are under 40, according to Naccho, the peak body for the nation’s Aboriginal medical services.
Less than 20% of the Aboriginal population aged 16 and over in western NSW had received one dose of any vaccine, and only 8% were fully vaccinated, Naccho said.
This means the Indigenous vaccination rate is significantly lower than the overall rate for the same region, where 36.9% of all people have had at least one dose, and 16.3% of all people are fully vaccinated, according to geographic vaccination statistics provided by the Department of Health.
A pop-up vaccination clinic has opened in Walgett and will run until Sunday 15 August, with Pfizer vaccines offered to anyone aged over 16. Friday will be for Walgett residents only, while residents from the wider shire will be able to get a jab over the weekend.
But anger is mounting at the extremely low levels of vaccination in the region.
“The government had the better part of the year to get this sorted. What is the actual vaccination rate for Aboriginal people across the country?” Linda Burney, shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, said.
More than a week ago, Naccho called for greater transparency on vaccine data amid concerns that being unable to see where the gaps are would leave communities exposed to the virus.
Vaccination figures are held by the federal health department, but despite repeated requests from Guardian Australia the department would not give information about Aboriginal vaccination rates by location or age group.
A health spokesperson would only cite top-line figures: “As at 9 August 2021, 155,552 people who identify as Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander have received at least one dose of their Covid-19 vaccine (26.8% of the eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population aged 16 years and older) and over 75,894 (13%) have received a second dose.”
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard told the media on Friday there is “a big challenge in north-western NSW” but the vaccine rollout was the responsibility of federal health minister, Greg Hunt.
“I wrote to minister Hunt and … pointed out to him on behalf of the state government that we would need them to step in and do work that they said they would be doing much earlier, and that is to try and vaccinate as many people and provide support,” Hazzard said.
Hunt said an “additional” 7,680 Pfizer doses were on the way to the eight affected local government areas in NSW including Walgett, to be administered at general practices, commonwealth vaccination clinics and Aboriginal community controlled health services.
But Linda Burney questioned exactly how many of those doses would actually go to Aboriginal people in western NSW and where they were being redirected from, saying it was like “robbing Peter to pay Paul”.
“It could be a matter of time before another outbreak makes its way into another community, and the consequences could be dire. And if communities have had their doses redirected, responsibility will lay squarely at the feet of the prime minister,” she said.
Elders in the western region says they are very worried, given the close connection many of the western towns have via extended family networks.
Yuwalaraay elder Frances Peters-Little said: “We’re all interconnected. The way in which Indigenous people function out here, for people who don’t understand, is that we rely entirely on our extended family networks in our town, and the next town, all down the line from here to Dubbo.”
Dubbo hospital covers an area of 246,000 sq km, which is similar to the size of Britain, she said.
The source of the outbreak is suspected to be a 27-year-old man who was released from Bathurst prison on bail while his test results were outstanding and then travelled to Walgett on 9 August, the NSW MP for the region, Roy Butler, told the ABC on Friday.
Butler said families in the region tended to travel long distances to see relatives or access essential services.
The NSW health department is yet to confirm details about the man’s case and whether he is considered the source of the outbreak.
The Dhariwaa elders group in Walgett said there was a need for accommodation and support for people leaving prison to quarantine while waiting for test results.
Elders also called for more trained nurses to support the work of the Aboriginal medical service, and for motel rooms to be made available for people who are homeless or need to isolate away from family.
They said the community needs wellbeing checks and delivery of essential items like medication, food and supplies – by trusted community members.
The local Aboriginal land council has been delivering essentials.
Walgett, like the towns surrounding it, has one supermarket which is reliant on regular deliveries from Dubbo.
“We call on governments and others who are in a position to support us to do all they can to help stop the spread of the virus in Walgett and surrounding communities,” the Dhariwaa elders said.
