Deputy Commissioner Heads Vaccination Roll-Out

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has appointed one of Queensland’s highest-ranking police officers to oversee the state’s increased COVID vaccination roll-out.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy will co-ordinate the operational and logistical elements to support Queensland Health teams and ensure more Queenslanders have access to the COVID vaccine.

“Ensuring more Queenslanders are vaccinated is a huge logistical exercise,” the Premier said.

“Deputy Commissioner Chelepy will have the responsibility of ensuring our vaccine clinics and community hubs are ready to administer vaccines in a timely way,” the Premier said.

Deputy Commissioner Chelepy is a 35 year veteran of the police service including as Commander of Police Specialist Operations including SERT.

For the past 10 years he has been Co-ordinator of the State Disaster Centre responding to cyclones, floods and fires.

The Deputy Commissioner says Queensland will use its respected Disaster Management experience to ensure this part of the COVID response is as successful as the rest.

“Our disaster management framework gives us an opportunity to harness the same co-ordination we see during cyclones and other natural disasters,” Deputy Commissioner Chelepy said.

“We can use that excellent response mechanism and apply it now to the vaccine roll-out.”

ENDS

Media contact:  Shane Doherty 0439 624 473