Woolworths Group is launching vaccination hubs in a number of closed Big W stores in an effort to speed up vaccinations for its team and their family members.

Getting assistance from the Federal Government National Covid Vaccine Taskforce, and partnering with medical provider International SOS, Woolworths has launched hubs at its Wetherill Park and Canterbury-Bankstown stores, and will launch another at its Carnes Hill store later this month.

“As Australia’s largest private employer, we’re delighted to be playing our part in accelerating the national vaccine rollout with the Federal Government,” said Woolies’ head of Covid response Ross Spencer.

“Making vaccine access easy and simple is key to driving uptake. We’ve seen that in our distribution centres already and we’re seeing it now as we stand up these vaccination hubs.”

According to Spencer, the Wetherill Park hub administered more than 200 doses in its first week, and that number is growing as team members get onboard. And, by partnering with International SOS the hubs don’t remove trained workers from the government’s existing vaccine programs.

The business employs 140,000 frontline workers. Spencer also said the business is working with the government to open more vaccination hubs throughout the country.