Able Australia National Marketing Director Chandi Pfieke has hailed Uber’s free ride incentive for the disabled population as “just another bow in our arsenal”.
The global ride-share company announced on Monday it had partnered with Able Australia to provide 10,000 free rides to and from vaccination appointments for 2,500 disabled Australians.
With uptake amongst those living with disabilities currently under 50 per cent, Ms Pfieke has urged the introduction of more incentives to boost the number of people getting the jab.
“Across our sector we’d probably say that it’s still quite low,” she said.
“This last outbreak has added a sense of urgency across the sector, which in some ways is unfortunate but this is what it’s taken, but I think we’re all starting to move in the right direction.
“This initiative with Uber is a great one that will be just another bow in our arsenal to try to get more people vaccinated.”
The disability sector has slammed the slow rollout of COVID-19 jabs, as Health Department officials revealed only about 355 out of more than 22,000 people living in disability accommodation have been fully vaccinated.
A plan to bring forward Covid-19 jabs for Australians aged 50 and over and proposals for state and territory mass vaccination sites are expected to be unveiled on Thursday.
The prime minister will meet with the premiers and chief ministers for national cabinet, which reached an in-principle agreement on changes to the vaccine rollout at Monday s meeting.
While GPs will continue to be the main delivery point for vaccinations for people aged 50 and older, states and territories are considering options to supplement the rollout through expanded state vaccination centres.
As the program topped 1.7 million jabs on Wednesday, there has been broad concern about the speed of the rollout and vaccine supply shortages.
It is a sad statistic many Queenslanders might not be aware of - drivers aged over 60 make up 24.5 per cent of licence holders, however they account for approximately 32.6 per cent of road fatalities.
As part of a renewed focus on seniors driving and road safety, the Ipswich crime prevention office will be holding free seminars for residents over the age of 60 who hold a current Queensland driver’s licence in Esk, later this month.
Ipswich District Crime Prevention Coordinator Sergeant Nadine Webster, who is facilitating the sessions, said the number of seniors involved in road trauma was “sadly quite high”.
Sad seniors statistic authorities want to change qt.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from qt.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.