Residents among first to get virus jab

Residents at Tuia Lodge aged care facility were among the first in the South West to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine rollout commenced in WA towards the end of February with priority groups offered the first doses. This included people most at risk of becoming very ill with COVID-19 and people at greater risk through their work. Following the arrival of the first supplies of the vaccine to be flown into WA, a specialist medical team were on-site at Tuia Lodge to administer the first doses to residents and staff. Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup president Cr Brian Piesse highlighted the importance of protecting the vulnerable. “Our Tuia Lodge residents are a treasured part of our community,” Mr Piesse said. “As a result of our well-planned and executed COVID pandemic response policy and plan, we were elated when informed that Tuia Lodge was one of the first front line aged care facilities in WA to be offered the vaccination.” Shire CEO Ben Rose advised that while influenza vaccination remained mandatory for anyone residing, working or visiting Tuia Lodge, the Shire followed the Department of Health’s advice for the wider community.