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This week Australia has experienced two significant milestones in the nations COVID vaccine rollout, with the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arriving on Monday and our Therapeutic Goods Administration approving the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine on Tuesday.
Those nominated as the highest risk in our community will begin receiving the Pfizer jab from next week. This first priority group (known as phase 1a) includes quarantine and border workers, aged care and disability care residents and staff, as well as some frontline healthcare workers. The vaccine requires two doses, 21 days apart. Due to the specific cold storage required, the Pfizer vaccine will be available at approximately 50 hospital hubs across the country and in residential aged care facilities. The Government has purchased 10 million doses.
Now that the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine has been given the green light for distribution, the Australian Government is working to get GPs around the country involved. General practices will help deliver the vaccine initially to priority groups (known as phase 1b), starting with patients over 70, adults with underlying medical conditions, as well as Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people. This vaccine also requires two doses, 21 days apart. Australia has secured just under 54 million doses of the AstraZenica vaccine.
At this stage, we don’t have details about the exact timeframe, booking procedure or qualifying criteria for phase 1b. We will continue to provide updates on our website and by email as more information becomes available.
In the meantime, anyone concerned about the vaccination and its effect on underlying health conditions should consult their doctor.
We encourage you to maintain accurate contact details with your Eastbrooke GP so that we can keep you well informed and give you access to treatments as they become available. If we don’t have your up-to-date contact details, including your mobile phone number, please contact your clinic.
The Australian Government will continue to provide further information about vaccines roll out as it becomes available.
During the vaccination rollout, everyone still needs to:
Find out more about COVID-19 vaccines and getting vaccinated in Australia.