The COVID-19 pandemic rolled through 2020 and the first half of 2021 without major lockdowns in regional communities, however recently that changed. The concern is now on vaccination rates in communities across Australia.
First Nation Aboriginal communities are at greater risk of outbreaks and transmission with low vaccination rates because of supply issues and changing advice rather than hesitancy.
In this in-depth interview Dr Jason King, talks as a GP of Aboriginal descent working in Yarrabah, Far North Queensland and 1 hour from Cairns, where 3500 people live in 350 houses.
Diseases such as heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, rheumatic heart disease and diabetes are prevalent in the community. Many health issues are due to overcrowding, limited access to access to basic food, poor nutrition and sanitation.