UPDATE, 11am Tuesday:
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Lowan member Emma Kealy has weighed in on the cross border vaccine situation, calling on the premier Daniel Andrews to ramp up vaccine efforts in west Victoria.
Ms Kealy cited the government's recent Operation COVID Shield data, which showed 30.2 per cent of people in West Wimmera shire were fully vaccinated, and 32.1 in Hindmarsh shire.
Ms Kealy said the Victorian government were "guilty of neglecting border communities" by failing to provide sufficient vaccination opportunities.
"Many locals have reported that the earliest they can get an appointment to be vaccinated is October, meaning those unable to be vaccinated could face being cut off from their jobs, school and essential services like supermarkets, their GP and petrol stations," she said.
OTHER NEWS:
"This has reached a crisis point, with South Australia announcing that a COVID-19 vaccination will be mandatory for entry into the state from 24 September.
"While we have successfully lobbied for border community members to be exempt from this deadline, which has given these residents more time, there is little doubt this will be a delay only, not a permanent exemption."
She called on Mr Andrews to formulate a vaccination plan for regional Victoria.
"Victoria has one million unused vaccines across the state, and has received a higher amount of vaccines than NSW per capita. The state government has responsibility for distribution of vaccines across the state, and they simply have failed to provide sufficient vaccines to enable border community members to get vaccinated," she said.
"For 18 months vulnerable cross-border community members have had to deal with a barrage of changing rules that have stopped them from going to work and school and going about their daily lives.
"Even Federal Labor MPs acknowledge that Daniel Andrews has ample supply of vaccine doses available in Victoria, but the Andrews Labor Government has no plan to deliver them.
"Gaps in the vaccination program need fixing. We need hope and a plan out of lockdown."
UPDATE, 10am Tuesday:
THE requirement for cross border community members to have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to travel across the border has been revoked.
South Australia police confirmed the decision, releasing Cross Border Travel Associated Direction 46, which clarifies the vaccine requirement for cross border travel.
Under the new direction, residents living in the 70km cross border corridor will not need a COVID-19 vaccination by September 24 to travel across the border.
However, all other essential travellers will have to meet the requirement.
Apsley resident and founder of the Cross Border Call Out website Paula Gust said the sudden rule change was a source of anxiety for many living on the border.
"There have been too many confusing releases of changes without putting something very clear," she said.
"A lot of people can live in South Australia without watching a press conference and worrying. It doesn't affect their lives - it could be masked on or masks off.
"The cross border community members are so aware and attentive to any new directives that come out because it substantially changes our lives.
"It can stop us from going across the border, it stops us from getting our medical treatment in Adelaide, people can't work, and kids can't go to school.
"Given that we are affected ten times more than the general population of South Australia, I think they need to pay more attention and be more clear in their explanations and justifications that they make."
EARLIER, Monday:
CROSS BORDER community members say they are confused by conflicting messaging coming from South Australian health authorities about border travel.
On Friday, South Australia police passed Cross Border Travel Associated Direction 45, requiring all essential travellers, including cross border community members, to have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by September 24, 2021, to enter the state.
However, a South Australia police spokesperson said the direction will soon be amended to remove the requirement for cross border residents to be vaccinated by late September.
"The state coordinator advises the Associated Direction will be amended shortly removing the requirement for residents living in the South Australian/ Victorian cross border corridor to be vaccinated by this date," the spokesperson said.
"However, future changes may require cross border community members and permitted arrivals to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before arriving in South Australia."
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