Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School among first of WA schools to offer on-site COVID vaccinations for students

In the midst of high school-aged children and teenagers becoming eligible to arm themselves against COVID-19, a local high school has begun offering on-site vaccinations. Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School recently organised for a GP outreach service to offer vaccines to the student body. Head of School Matthew O’Brien said the service came about after the school held an information evening with the parents of students that board at the school not long after it was announced people aged from 16 to 29 were made eligible to be vaccinated. “There’s lot of conversation going on surrounding COVID and parents were asking how they could get their children vaccinated when they live in areas that don’t have dedicated clinics,” he said. “One of the things we always say about boarding is that we try to service our families - we are the home away from home. “So we came back to school and thought it would be a good idea to partner with a GP clinic that can provide an outreach service. “We then spoke with Sarah Youngson, the GP at Bridgetown Medical Group about organising that. “She has two kids that board with us so she was very willing to work with us. “We get a lot of engagement from other parents that work in the medical industry as well as other medical facilities but taking this route just made sense for us.” The school held its first COVID vaccination clinic on Monday with year 11 and 12 students rolling up their sleeves to receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. While there was the primary goal of providing vaccines for the boarding students, the vaccines were also on offer for the general student body as well as staff members that had not been able to get themselves to a vaccination clinic. After the four-hour vaccination session on Monday, Mr O’Brien said the service has been well received by the school community. “The families have really liked the provision of service associated with the school because it makes it much easier for them,” he said. “Our students in rural and regional areas are usually very busy so fitting in another thing can be quite difficult. “The boarding families have been very thankful for that because it takes a big pressure off them.” Mr O’Brien said the school will continue running vaccination clinics alongside Bridgetown Medical Group within the coming months. “The next one will be on October 15 and with the announcement for children aged 12-15 becoming eligible, we will be able to provide those students with their first dose then as well as the second dose for the 16+ age group,” he said. “There will be a third clinic later in the year. “We haven’t organised an exact date just yet but it is likely to be four to five weeks after the second clinic.”