Vaccination hub set for Rockhampton match

Rugby league fans attending the history-making elimination final in Rockhampton will be given the opportunity to line up for the COVID-19 vaccine beforehand in a major event first in Queensland.

A crowd capacity of around 5000 is expected for Parramatta's clash with Newcastle at Browne Park on Sunday with Queensland Health and the NRL joining forces to set up a vaccination hub outside the venue.

Central Queensland director of COVID vaccination response, Candise Bradshaw, said the opportunity was open to the public to come forward and receive a jab before attending the match. 

"We want to offer the vaccine to the community should they choose to or help with information and education if they want to have a chat, or arrange an appointment for another day," Bradshaw said.

"The team will be there promoting vaccination to the community and ensuring that we give them another opportunity to access the vaccine should they choose.

"We'd really like to work collaboratively with the NRL in getting the message out there. In CQ, we have delivered over 45,000 vaccines across the state since we started our campaign.

"It's really important for us to increase those numbers. We had a great week this week and would really love to continue that momentum with the game on Sunday and keep our community safe."

Bradshaw said the opportunity will be a "walk-in service" operating from 11am until just before kick-off.  

The Eels and Knights have also supported the initiative, donating signed jerseys towards a raffle for those who either register for vaccination or get vaccinated at the hub to go into the draw.

"There's no need to pre-arrange an appointment, we'll ask for everyone's patience as we move through as many vaccinations as we can," Bradshaw said.

"We would like people to bring their Medicare card and photo ID and we will get them sorted."

Program manager Steven Gall added the vaccination hub was a "unique opportunity" for the local Central Queensland community to participate in the event.

"This will be the first type of a pop-up COVID vaccination response at a major event," Gall said.

"We hope we can translate this into other events in the future. The learning we will engage with this weekend we'll carry forward.

"You might start to see this pop up at other events around the state. It's been a busy week but we're incredibly grateful to the NRL for the third game we've got here coming up, a historical event for the Central Queensland community."

The latest partnership between the NRL and Queensland Health comes after the game encouraged fans to receive the COVID-19 vaccination in a bid to keep others safe.

"The NRL wants to do everything they can to promote the virtue of vaccination," NRL Head of Partnerships Jaymes Boland-Rudder said.

"It's our ticket to freedom as a country and we are encouraging everyone who can get vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

"For those who are going along to the game on the weekend, watch a great game of football and get your vaccination on the way in."