Homewares chain Bunnings has offered to assist with Australia’s vaccine rollout, stating it is open to allowing the government to set up vaccination hubs in its carparks around the country.

And, according to a report in The Guardian, health experts are backing the offer – stating it could be an effective way to distribute the vaccine to communities around Australia.

“We’ve previously supported the government and the community by hosting Covid-19 testing in some of our store car parks and we’re always open to discussing further support directly with the government,” Bunnings’ chief operating officer told The Guardian.

The company stressed, however, it is not currently in talks with the federal government to coordinate such an effort.

La Trobe University associate professor and epidemiologist Hassan Valley said Bunnings locations are often convenient to get to, and will help to normalise the process of vaccination by exposure.

“Most people haven’t seen a vaccination occur in person, so if you’re going into a Bunnings a few times and you keep passing the vaccinations, then the next time you’re on your way out with your potting mix, you’ll go up and ask,” Valley said.

“If people go to Bunnings and can get their sausage sandwich after their vaccine on the way out, that’s a good thing.”

And, with over 250 Bunnings locations around Australia, there is a good chance most localities will have one near enough to be a central meeting point – making the act of finding your nearest vaccination hub much simpler.

“Bunnings is an identifiable site, it’s got the space and can be adapted for this,” Deakin University chair of epidemiology Professor Catherine Bennett told The Guardian.

“People are comfortable there and this type of plan would leverage Bunnings’ presence in the community.”