Roselyn Thomas, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner/Chronic Disease Coordinator with the Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health said that as a frontline health worker, she needed the COVID jab to protect herself, her family, her patients and the community. 

“Looking at the pandemic and around the community or communities, there’s been a few scares and I suppose, me as a frontline worker, because I sit in the recovery room with the COVID clinics, it’s just keeping myself safe but also my family,” Ms Thomas said. 

“I have little ones at home who are below the age of 10, so – trying to keep myself safe and my family.” 

Ms Thomas reports that after some initial reluctance, Cunnamulla mob are finally coming in to get the COVID-19 jab.  

“One of my roles here at the organisation was contacting community and seeing if they would like to have the jab,” she said. 

“The biggest majority of mob were afraid to come forward and have it. 

“I suppose it’s like any vaccination where you still get the disease but your symptoms aren’t quite so severe.  

“But in saying that, we’ve seen a change, and a change for the good.  

“Because now those ones who declined to have the jab, have actually come forward.  

“So, if we look at statistics for Cunnamulla community, we’re over the 60 per cent mark which is really good.” 

Because there had been a few close calls where COVID-19 could have escaped into the local community, Roselyn said community had finally come to terms with the fact that this is real. 

“I mean, it’s not gonna go away any time soon, so we just need to take all precautions moving forward,” she said. 

“But I think one of the things that works so well is that we try to capture the whole community. 

“So with our nurse immuniser, she’s been working weekends to capture that core group.  

Roselyn also said most people have a pretty minor reaction when they get the jab.  

“I didn’t have any signs or symptoms, for the first or the second jab.  

“Listening to community, the consensus was they were all feeling unwell–arm sore, bit of a headache–I didn’t have any of that.  

“But for the second, I just felt tired.  

“But I just got up and moved around and all was good.” 

She also has a message for any in the community who are waiting to get the jab. 

“All I can say is, you know, this is a pandemic.  

“We need to look after each other, we are a small community, we do treat each other as family.  

“So look, if you’re unsure, come in and ask the questions; we can try and help you move forward and hopefully have a fully vaccinated community.” 

If you would like more information, or to book an appointment, contact Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health.