Shire of Ashburton closes in on 70 per cent first COVID-19 jab rate for Aboriginal population

The vaccine rates among the Pilbara’s Indigenous population continues to climb, with the Ashburton region leading the way by closing in on a 70 per cent first dose milestone. All four Pilbara local government areas improved the Indigenous first dose vaccination rate by about 2 per cent in the first week of the month. As of December 8, 68.3 per cent of the 549 Indigenous residents of the Shire of Ashburton had received their first jab, with 46.1 per cent fully vaccinated. The jump was a 2 per cent increase in first dose totals compared to December 1. The East Pilbara reached 60.2 per cent first dose with 33.4 per cent double-dosed. Karratha had the largest increase of 2.7 per cent, moving its first dose rate up to 58.5 per cent, and 33.5 per cent of the City of Karratha’s indigenous population are fully vaccinated. Port Hedland is legging behind, with its vaccine rate sitting at 54.1 per cent first dose and 30.9 per cent double dose. Yamatji Elder and Australian TV personality Ernie Dingo has been visiting Pilbara communities to hold information sessions and yarn with local Indigenous residents about their concerns. Dingo said the visits were about hearing concerns and providing information. “I’m here to talk to people about them being vaccinated and being safe, because so many times like funeral time we got to hug each other. We got to touch each other to mark the passing of a deceased,” he said. Dingo said one of the ways he described the vaccine was like having a club to fight the virus with.