An intensive care clinician in Sydney made an impassioned plea at the NSW coronavirus press conference for young Aussies to go out and get vaccinated in order to help hospital staff.
Nepean Hospital intensive care specialist Dr Nhi Nguyen made the call after NSW recorded 818 COVID-19 cases overnight, plus three deaths.
“We are really fortunate to work in a health system that is well coordinated and resilient, and world-class,” Dr Nguyen said.
“What has worried us over the last few weeks is the increasing number of patients admitted to intensive care.
“They are younger, they are staying in intensive care for longer, and they are needing care that can’t be provided anywhere else in the wards.”
Just like some of the other guest speakers who have dropped into the daily pressers, Dr Nguyen once again pointed out that these young people with COVID-19 are spending way longer in intensive care than most patients normally would.
That’s putting enormous strain on hospitals, families and ICU nurses themselves.
“What has really worried us is the number of young patients who are coming in.”
Intensive care specialist Dr Nhi Nguyen says up to 25 per cent of ICU patients with #COVID19 are under the age of 40.
Read more: https://t.co/CWwUUSdFWF#9News pic.twitter.com/TarBfd29Vj
— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) August 23, 2021
The only way to put an end to this is for us all to get vaccinated. NSW has so far administered 5.9 million jabs, so we’re well on our way to achieving decent coverage in the next few weeks.
“Our nurses and doctors provide the best and compassionate care, and we need your help,” she said.
“It isn’t a good day when you need to meet that team. We would much prefer to never meet you and your families.
“Our nurses are coming and our doctors are coming up to work every day, despite knowing how difficult it is. They are leaving children at home.
“My call is to please get vaccinated. We know that vaccination decreases your risk of getting severe disease. We know that vaccination decreases your chance of death. We are here to call for you to help us.
“We are genuinely asking for your help.”
NSW recorded 818 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Of these locally acquired cases, 120 are linked to a known case or cluster – 94 are household contacts & 26 are close contacts – & the source of infection for 698 is under investigation. pic.twitter.com/Dgm4sWNMXH
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 23, 2021
Dr Nguyen finished by speaking directly to young people in the Western Sydney hotspots where the situation is the most dire.
She pointed to the roughly 500,000 new Pfizer doses have been allocated for people aged 16-39 in those areas. If you fall into this category, you can now make an expedited booking to get jabbed.
“Although I stand here as a representative of the intensive care community across New South Wales, I will send out a personal message to those in the south-western and Western Sydney area,” she said.
“I grew up in Liverpool, I now live in the Penrith LGA. So, please, if you are able and you are between 16 and 39, book in and get your first shot of the vaccine, because we know it will protect you.
“As I say, it is a good day when you don’t need to meet me or the intensive care team.”
All adult Aussies (yep, even if those of us under 40) are currently able to get the safe and effective AstraZeneca vaccine through a GP. Click here to see which clinics are offering it, and talk to a doctor to see if it’s right for you.
Alternatively, you can triple-check to see if you’re eligible for the Pfizer vaccine here.
The best vaccine is the first one you can get, and that’ll be our ticket out of this mess.
