Almost 1,500 global seafarers at NSW’s busiest trade gateway, Port Botany, are now protected against COVID-19 thanks to the Seafarers Vaccination Program (SVP) – a joint initiative of NSW Ports and NSW Health.
Since May 2021, NSW Ports has worked with health officials to provide vaccines to seafarers at Port Botany. It was the first Australian port to offer vaccinations, with similar programs now in place at our Port Kembla terminals, as well as other NSW and interstate ports.
Since its inception, 85 ships berthing at Port Botany have had crew members vaccinated; with almost 1,500 vaccinations administered in the past 12 months.
NSW Ports, Port Operations Manager, Wayne Ashton said the business is proud to help vaccinate seafarers, who play an integral role in the supply chain on which we all rely.
“This program is helping to protect the health and welfare of the critical workforce of seafarers who crew the cargo ships that deliver essential goods around the world,” he said.
There are more than 1.6 million seafarers who work on merchant ships world-wide – many of whom spent more than 12 months on ships during the peak of the pandemic when health protocols restricted crew changes. Often their only contact was with the Mission to Seafarers, whose dedicated staff have also helped deliver the vaccination program.
“By delivering vaccines, we’re helping to fortify the maritime workforce and broader industry, so seafarers receive the health support they deserve, and supply chains remain resilient,” Mr Ashton said.
“I’ve never seen people more grateful to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. We’ve delivered many initial jabs to seafarers, and I’m really pleased that second doses and booster jabs are being provided to crews now as well.”
NSW Health’s State Emergency Operations Centre Controller Joanne Edwards said the Seafarers Vaccination Program is critically important to boosting vaccination rates among seafarers.
“This collaboration between NSW Health and NSW Ports is evidence of how versatile and far-reaching the COVID-19 vaccination effort has been in NSW,” Ms Edwards said.
For further vaccine facts and to book your jab, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/vaccination.
Download a copy of this media release here.
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Brooke.Eggleton@nswports.com.au | 0419 684 953