Woolworths Group is bolstering their COVID-19 vaccination efforts as it launches vaccination hubs for its workers and their family members in western Sydney local government areas (LGAs).
With the assistance of the Federal Government National COVID Vaccine Taskforce, Woolworths Group has established pop-up vaccination hubs at its closed Wetherill Park and Canterbury-Bankstown BIG W stores.
Another hub is also set to open later this month at BIG W’s Carnes Hill store to help cover the Liverpool and Canterbury LGA communities.
Due to the Sydney lockdown, these stores have been closed to in-store customers since July 2021.
Woolworths Group has engaged accredited provider International SOS to lead the vaccination process, governance, and reporting requirements to NSW Health.
Ross Spencer, Woolworths Group Head of COVID response, said they are delighted to be playing their part in accelerating the national vaccine rollout with the Federal Government.
“Making vaccine access easy and simple is key to driving uptake. We’ve seen that in our distribution centres already and we’re seeing it now as we stand up these vaccination hubs,” Spencer said.
“Our pilot clinic in Wetherill Park has administered more than 200 doses in the first week and bookings are growing as more team members become familiar with it,” he revealed.
He continued that Woolworths is working with the Federal Government to open similar vaccination hubs across the country as opportunities become available.
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Woolworths Group hosted pop-up clinics have been operating at distribution and fulfilment centres since July and have administered more than 7,500 doses.
The retailer provides up to eight hours of paid COVID vaccination leave (taken as two instances of four hours) for frontline team members.
Woolworths Group is currently Australia’s largest private employer, employing more than 160,000 Australians, including more than 140,000 team members in frontline roles across is its supermarkets, BIG W and distribution centres.
Source: Woolworths Group