Greater Shepparton residents are being praised for answering the vaccination call as the city inches closer to its goal of getting another 5,000 people immunised.
Goulburn Valley Health and the Greater Shepparton City Council joined forces to launch the Get the Jab Done campaign last Friday.
Since then, more than 1,750 people have come forward for their first dose.
"We're really proud of that," Mayor Kim O'Keeffe said.
But about 3,250 people still need to roll up their sleeves before the target is reached.
"We've still got a bit of a gap there," Cr O'Keeffe said.
Shepparton not yet COVID-safe
Almost 93 per cent of Shepparton residents had received one dose of the vaccine as of October 10 and 61.1 per cent were fully vaccinated.
Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp said that was a "big improvement" on the previous week — the figures sat at 88.9 per cent for single doses and 52.1 per cent for doubles on October 3.
Nonetheless, the need to boost vaccination rates across the region is becoming even more urgent as COVID numbers continue to rise.
Shepparton's total number of active cases reached 161 on Wednesday — an increase of 21 cases in the 24-hour reporting period.
Most transmission is occurring between households despite residents being urged to avoid visiting homes, except for permitted reasons.
"It's frustrating," Mr Sharp said.
"Not only does it increase the risk of other people in the community picking up COVID ... but also, it's placing pressure on our hospital services."
Measures to boost vaccination rates
It is hoped Greater Shepparton will reach at least the 95 per cent mark for first-dose vaccinations in the coming days.
Mr Sharp said it was the key to keeping the community safe.
"We know that over 80 per cent of people who have been in hospital recently with COVID are unvaccinated," he said.
As part of the vaccination drive, Shepparton’s vaccine hub extended its opening hours last week and started offering the Moderna vaccine.
GV Health has also been delivering vaccinations across town via its mobile vaccine hub, Jabba the Bus.
There are now plans for a second bus to join the fleet – with a name yet to be chosen.
"That bus we expect will be on the road from Monday next week," Mr Sharp said.
"We plan to take the vaccination to areas not only in the Shepparton and Mooroopna townships, but broader."
