Vaccination’s the only way to stop spread of Covid-19
Dr Jamal Rifi had been ordering 500 doses a week and vaccinating about 80 people a day with five nurses in the first three weeks but last week reduced staff to one nurse after bookings reduced.
He had only 17 bookings on Monday in his practice at Belmore Medical Centre but vaccinated 26 in total after others walked in off the street.
“I want to raise the alarm among our residents who come from all backgrounds including Arabic, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Persian and Romanian, that vaccination is vital to keep the country safe,” he said.
“I also want to urge the Government to change their messages because confidence has taken such a hit; one death is a tragedy but one out of 800,000 vaccinations is small.
“The oral conceptive pill, for example, increases a woman’s risk of developing blood clots by 400 per cent; everything comes with risk but the risk of doing nothing is far greater.”
Dr Rifi, 60, though permitted to have the Pfizer vaccine himself, opted for the AstraVeneca in an effort boost patient confidence.
“It is safe and effective and the only way we will get through this,” he said.
“We did such a great job stopping community transmission and protecting our borders that we feel we are not at risk.
“But everyone is at risk unless vaccinated; there is no escaping it.”
Make a booking today at belmoremedical.com.au or call 9740 3211.
