Parra News August 31 2021

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Julie Owens Bulletin
Failed vaccine rollout
putting hospitals at risk
Western Sydney has been left behind by
Scott Morrison’s vaccine rollout. Now our
hospitals are being stretched to breaking
point.
Last week, three hospitals – Westmead, Blacktown and
Nepean – were forced to turn away COVID patients.
As daily case numbers have tipped over one thousand,
there has also been a surge in the number of
hospitalisations and people needing intensive care. At
time of writing, there are 115 people in intensive care and
43 people on ventilators.
The overwhelming majority of people in intensive care
are unvaccinated. Only 13% have received at least one
dose of the COVID vaccine.
COVID patients are now filling 1 in 5 intensive care beds
in NSW and there is very little capacity left in intensive
care units to cope with the expected rise in case
numbers.
Our hospital and community healthcare workers have
been caught in the middle of this crisis. Doctors, nurses,
paramedics and cleaners have taken huge personal risks
and worked tirelessly to keep us safe since the beginning
of the pandemic.
Now they tell us they’re exhausted. Paramedics backed
up outside hospitals in COVID exposed PPE don’t even
have the opportunity to have a drink of water or go to
the toilet.
All these workers and the desperately ill patients filling
up our hospital wards deserved much better. They
deserved an effective vaccine rollout that gave everyone
who wanted to get vaccinated the opportunity to do so.
Six months into the rollout, I’m still getting calls every
Parramatta needs vaccine
hubs now
Parramatta and surrounding suburbs have some of
the highest
COVID-19 cases and some of
the lowest vaccination rates.
Scan the
QR code to sign
the petition demanding
more vaccination hubs in
Parramatta.
day from people who can’t book a vaccine appointment
in their local area. Others tell me they’re facing a
months long wait to get their first dose when it’s now a
requirement for them to go to work.
The NSW Government has announced an easing of
restrictions for fully vaccinated people on 13 September.
While I’m sure we’d all agree that we want to see the
light at the end of the tunnel, only 20-29% on people in
Parramatta and surrounding suburbs are fully vaccinated.
With Westmead Hospital turning away COVID patients
and setting up a makeshift unit to triage patients, it’s
obvious that we urgently need access to more vaccines.
That’s why I’m demanding that walk-in vaccination
hubs be set up in the Parramatta CBD and surrounding
suburbs.
The Morrison Government’s failure to secure enough
vaccine supplies and get them where they’re most
needed has put Western Sydney at greatest risk in this
outbreak.
If you think our state and federal governments should
stop blaming Western Sydney for this outbreak and start
working together to set up walk-in vaccination centres
in Parramatta now, scan the QR code below to sign the
petition on my website.
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parra news » Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Julie Owens MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PARRAMATTA
If I can be of any help please phone me on 9689 1455 or write to 1/25 Smith St, Parramatta NSW 2150
or email julie.owens.mp@aph.gov.au julie.owens.mp www.julieowens.com.au
Authorised by Julie Owens MP, Australian Labor Party, 1/25 Smith Street, Parramatta.
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