WELLINGTON Shire residents aged over 70 will be able to book to receive the COVID-19 vaccination from one of 22 GP clinics across Gippsland from Monday as part of the phase 1b rollout.
While a full list of GPs in the shire who will be accepting bookings was still not available on the health department website by Thursday morning, the Inglis Street Respiratory Clinic in Sale and Maffra Medical Group are confirmed as approved clinics.
A spokesperson for Gippsland Primary Health Network said more practices would be added in the next four weeks.
All Australians will have access to the vaccine, however doses are limited so priority groups will be among the first to receive it.
Gippsland Primary Health Network chief executive Amanda Proposch said the general practices approved by the Australian Department of Health to participate in Phase 1b of the vaccine rollout would receive supply of vaccines progressively over the coming weeks.
“It is important for all of us, as a community, to understand that this is a considered phased approach, in response to the supply and availability of the vaccine which will become more and more as the vaccine is produced in Australia,” Ms Proposch said.
“In Phase 1b, eligible people include anyone over 70 years old, health care workers, younger adults with an underlying condition and high-risk workers like emergency services personnel and meat processing workers.
“It also includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are over 55.”
People can use the Australian government’s COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker to find out when they can expect to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and if they are eligible for Phase 1b. They can also find the location of their nearest vaccination clinic, with information on how to book.
The list of clinics is for the first week, with more clinics to be added as they join the rollout.
Across Gippsland, nominated clinics will have stocks of the vaccine and will be taking vaccination bookings.
This is in addition to the six Gippsland respiratory clinics and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
So far more than 200,000 Australians have been vaccinated, including more than 500 aged care facilities and 45,000 aged care residents.
Speaking on ABC radio Thursday morning, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced that 100 Commonwealth clinics would administer COVID vaccines to alleviate some pressure on GPs.
“Today we’re announcing over 100 Commonwealth vaccination clinics that will take all-comers, with over 100 around the country,” he said.
“That’s a very important addition, and on average we’ll have close to 1000 vaccines a week [for each Commonwealth clinic], so that expands the capacity very significantly.”
On Wednesday, Mr Hunt said not everybody would be able to be vaccinated in the first week of phase 1b.
“But it commences next week and I think that’s the important thing,” Mr Hunt said.
“And practices will start on the day during the week when they are ready.
“I think that that’s extremely good, and all of the states and territories are playing their part, and we thank them for that.”
Mr Hunt said more than 1000 general practices across the country will begin vaccinating under phase 1b from next week, but “on the day that works best for them”.
“And so, not every practice may start on Monday,” he said.
“It will be practice-related.
“It’ll be up to each facility to determine what time works for them.”
The Department of Health has launched a live website through Healthdirect where people can find their nearest vaccination clinic.
People can check their eligibility online through the eligibility checker.
