The Commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccination program is expanding in Victoria, with a blitz planned for the coming month following delivery of more Pfizer vaccine from the Commonwealth, the opening of more open-access vaccination centres, and hundreds of thousands of Victorians under 50 soon able to access the vaccine.
From Monday 17 May, Victorians aged under 50 in a number of priority groups will be able to receive the Pfizer vaccine at more vaccination centres across Victoria, including:
- Critical and high-risk workers—such as emergency services workers, Australian Defence Force personnel and licenced meat and seafood processing workers
- Adults with specified underlying health conditions, or severe mental health conditions
- Disability services workers and carers of people with a disability, both paid and unpaid
- Paid and unpaid carers of people who are over 70, or who have specified underlying medical conditions
- Public-facing transport workers, including public transport, taxi and rideshare drivers (from 24 May)
This is in addition to many more healthcare and aged care workers, hotel quarantine and border workers and others who are already eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine if they are under 50, an official press release said.
Victoria is working closely with the Commonwealth who are leading the roll-out to provide more options for the administration of vaccines to people living with a disability. The Commonwealth have advised they will retain responsibility for in-reach services within residential disability care homes.
People who are under 50 years old eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine currently must make a booking. Bookings can be made by calling 1800 675 398. Open-access vaccination centres continue to offer AstraZeneca to all Victorians aged over 50, including through walk-in appointments where available.
The Victorian Government is opening more open-access vaccination centres across Victoria—with a new centre at the Melbourne Showgrounds set to launch on 17 May, managed by Western Health.
As of this morning, Victoria has delivered more than 300,000 vaccine doses through Victoria’s health services. From 17 May, general practices will also start administering AstraZeneca to all Victorians aged 50 and over.
To view the full list of specified underlying health conditions under the Commonwealth’s eligibility criteria, visit health.gov.au/initiatives-and-
More information about locations, vaccine and walk-in access is available at coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine
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