A local campaign that began late last year to boost vaccination rates in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) has had strong results.

BEL funded $11,000 towards the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service’s Community Champions campaign, with Hylda Wapau at the helm of the initial Indigenous COVID-19 Vaccination and Engagement Team.

Ms Wapau says the campaign aimed to increase the vaccination uptake among families and clients within the five NPA communities.

“When we approached Bamaga Enterprises for support, our vaccination rate in the NPA was only about 38% fully vaccinated,’’ Ms Wapau says.

“Now the rate for the NPA is about 75% fully vaccinated and 90% with at least one dose. This has been a phenomenal improvement and I would like to thank our highly respected local champions who were instrumental to our success – Clifford Wasiu, Reginald Williams and Jeffrey Aniba. Having community leaders who speak the KKY language visit unvaccinated households and workplaces has been essential to protect individuals, families and our community.

“They were able to take a cultural approach in talking to family hierarchies as they’re in a better position to understand family dynamics and respectful knowledge keepers.”

Vaccination rates in the NPA are still lower compared with the health service as a whole, according to Ms Wapau.

“It’s very clear there is widespread community transmission of COVID-19 across the Torres Strait, Northern Peninsula Area and Cape York. As such, it’s inevitable that NPA residents, in their day-to-day activities, will contract this virus, so the team encourages everyone to be vaccinated, including five to 11-year-olds now.’’