Josh Walker, 32, was the first young person to take up the AstraZeneca vaccine in Victoria's south west after it expanded to 18-39s today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Warrnambool's vaccine rollout has stepped up to another gear, with people aged between 18 and 39 able to receive an AstraZeneca vaccination at the mass vaccination hub from today.
As a small business owner of Timboon Distillery, Mr Walker has had to endure six lockdowns and the impacts to business and staff have been devastating.
He hopes everyone will consider getting vaccinated to help the community get back to a COVID normal
"We want everyone to come and get vaccinated and avoid lockdowns," Mr Walker said.
"I've got 25 staff working for me and I want to see them stay in a job and keep the economy going.
"Go ahead and get it done, it's a five minute job and you wait around for 15 minutes and go home.
"If anyone's coming to Warrnambool, jump online and book it in and do it while you're doing jobs in town - it's just it's quick and easy and you'll be out of here in 15 minutes' time."
Mr Walker owns and runs Timboon Distillery and has had to shut down six times in the last 18 months.
Without the safety net of Job Keeper his staff and business are suffering.
In the fourth lockdown they tried to offer takeaway services but with a small population in Timboon within five kilometres they were barely making $100 a day - far from the amount needed to pay staff.
"We've got a great team there but I can see they're getting a bit weary now and they're all going to get their vaccines," he said.
READ MORE:
"As soon as we get locked down 25 staff go home without pay basically. It affects not just me but all the people that work for us and their families as well.
"It's pretty devastating each time it happens, we just want to get out of these lockdowns and get back to some sort of normality."
Latest data shows Warrnambool is leading the charge with vaccinations in Victoria, with 2.9 per cent of first doses administered this week marking the fastest uptake in the state.
Federal health department figures from August 8 show 54.5 per cent of the Warrnambool and south-west population aged over 15 have received a first COVID-19 vaccine dose, bringing the region second only to Bendigo at 54.8 per cent.
Second dose rates grew to 27.5 per cent in the south-west, surpassing Melbourne's inner-south (26.8 per cent) and sitting behind Bendigo (28.9 per cent) and Geelong (30.3 per cent).
South West Healthcare COVID-19 testing coordinator Sue Anderton said AstraZeneca doses would be increased at the Warrnambool vaccination centre and in Camperdown to cater for young people, from from 500 doses to 750 a week.
"There was an announcement last week by the state government to say now 18 to 39-year-olds could have AstraZeneca at vaccination centers so here at South West Healthcare we've worked through what that means," she said.
"It's exciting that we can offer AstraZeneca to 18 to 39-year-olds.
"It's currently by appointment only and that is essentially because we'd like a senior nurse to have a discussion with them before they have the AstraZeneca vaccine so it would just take a few minutes longer than a normal appointment."
Pfizer supply remains at 500 doses a week by appointment only for eligible patients only.
The Pfizer vaccine is also now being offered at the Camperdown hospital.
"Vaccination works because it builds herd immunity," Ms Anderton said
"We want to eradicate the COVID virus - at the end of the day that's our aim.
"Vaccination works because it keeps our communities safe."