Sports stars to help encourage vaccination during Queensland’s Super Schools blitz

The Queensland Government is offering the opportunity to meet favourite sports stars as an extra incentive to get vaccinated at the Super Schools Vaccination blitz weekend.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced players from rugby league, soccer, netball, Australian football, rugby union and many more will be on hand to congratulate those being vaccinated at select schools during the pop-up clinics this weekend.

Players from the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Reds, Gold Coast SUNS and Gold Coast Titans, Queensland Firebirds, JCU Townsville Fire and Swimming Queensland are lending their support to the Super Schools Vaccination blitz. More clubs and athletes are expected to join the initiative.

Premier Palaszczuk notes “Sport has the ability to unite and inspire us. That includes spreading the ‘get vaccinated’ message and I want to thank all the clubs, players and athletes who are taking part.”

More than 25,000 people were vaccinated at the last two Super Schools weekend.

Athletes from the Broncos will be at various locations across southeast Queensland, Queensland Reds players will be running drills at Kelvin Grove State School on Sunday 21st November, and Queensland Firebirds will be at Calamvale Community College on Saturday 20th November.

In the north JCU Townsville Fire players will visit school clinics, and Swimming Queensland, the Gold Coast SUNS and Brisbane Roar A-League Women’s team will have players on board to help supercharge the Super Schools Blitz on the Gold Coast and Brisbane. 

The Premier also thanked Johnathan Thurston and Olympians Teliqua Clancy and Brad Hore for spreading the vaccination message on Thursday Island, Horn Island, Yarrabah and Lockhart River.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the pop-up locations were chosen to target specific areas where vaccination rates needed to increase ahead of the border opening and restrictions for unvaccinated people coming into effect on December 17 or earlier.

“This is a great opportunity to get a jab and an autograph,” Minister D’Ath said.

“Those who have questions about vaccination should talk about them with their trusted health professional like their GP or pharmacist or the health staff at our pop up clinics.”

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace said she was pleased the state’s schools could once again help to get more Queenslanders vaccinated.

“We know our schools are an important part of our local communities and it’s great to see they can also continue to support this important rollout weekend after weekend,” Minister Grace said.

“We hope that any Queensland students aged 12 and over who have not yet been vaccinated, and their families, will come forward and get the jab this weekend.

“Every person who gets vaccinated helps decrease the spread of COVID-19, as well as protect their families, friends, and community. There is no reason to delay.”

For the full list of locations and opening times, visit the Queensland Health vaccination locations webpage.

If you can’t make it to a Queensland Health vaccination location, including pop-up locations, you can access the COVID-19 vaccine at a participating primary care provider, such as GPs and community pharmacies.