How to fast track your Covid booking

COVID vaccines are free and they are being delivered by GPs, some chemists in rural areas, at state run vaccination clinics and community health clinics. To get an appointment you can use booking apps such as HotDoc or HealthEngine, government websites or

HOW MANY VACCINATION SITES ARE THERE?

Around the country there are more than 6300 places to get the jab. They include more than 5000 GP clinics and respiratory clinics, 830 state and territory facilities and nearly 300 pharmacies.

WHAT VACCINATIONS CAN I GET WHERE?

Pfizer shots are available at only 1550 GP clinics but you can get an AstraZeneca vaccine at more than 5120 GP clinics. At this stage chemists only provide AstraZeneca shots. State vaccination hubs provide Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses.

WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO PROVIDE TO GET A VACCINE?

Before you can get the jab you’ll need to fill in some online or paper forms and provide details about your age and Medicare number.

If you are a frontline worker you will need proof of your employment such as a pay slip.

If you are booking online you will then need to set up an online account through the booking platform before you can make a vaccine appointment.

WHERE CAN I GET THE VACCINE? Walk in clinics

In some states, including Victoria and Queensland, there are walk-in clinics where you can queue up to get an AstraZeneca shot. This can take hours, depending on demand. You can also book an appointment at the venues listed here:

Victoria: coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres Queensland: https://www.health.qld. gov.au/news-events/doh-mediareleases/releases/communityvaccination-locations-openingthis-weekend

State-based covid vaccination hubs

NSW is running a mass vaccination hub at Sydney Olympic Park open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 5pm on Sundays. It also has other state based vaccination hubs. You must make an appointment through this link: covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility

South Australia has four vaccine hubs. An appointment can be made through this link: sahealth.sa.gov.au/ wps/wcm/connect/public+content/ sa+health+internet/conditions/ infectious+diseases/covid-19/vaccine/ getting+vaccinated/vaccination+hubs

Tasmania is running 11 vaccine clinics but the opening times and dates vary. You can find them here: coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccinationinformation/covid-19-vaccination/ Book-your-vaccine

The Northern Territory is running nine vaccination clinics at Royal Darwin Hospital, Tracy Village, Danila Dilba Health Services, Palmerston, Commonwealth Vaccination Centre (Palmerston), Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs Clinic and Gove. To book, go to: covid19appointment.nt.gov.au/vaccinate#/appointment

Federal government booking service

You can book a vaccine appointment through the Australian Government’s Department of Health website using their eligibility checker. The platform will ask you a series of questions about your age and occupation and health status to determine if you are eligible for a shot and will then allow you to book an appointment at a GP clinic or respiratory near you. Go to: covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility

GP booking aps

You can also use medical appointment booking apps to get a spot with a general practitioner or a federal government respiratory clinic. HotDoc and HealthEngine are both offering this service.

Book with your regular GP

You can check with your regular GP whether they are providing the vaccinations and make an appointment with them directly. Not all GPs are approved to deliver the shots.

Phone helpline

If you need help making a vaccine appointment you can call 1800 020 080. The helpline can troubleshoot but is unable to book appointments for you.

Top tips

Making an appointment at a GP respiratory clinic is your best chance of getting an earlier vaccine appointment. There are 130 of these GP clinics around the country and these doctors receive more than 1000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine per week, compared to regular GP clinics which get deliveries of

150-600 doses a week.

The small number of GP clinics delivering

Pfizer jabs get 300 doses a week. GP respiratory clinics get 500 Pfizer doses a week.

Many people are already signed up to use medical booking apps such as HotDoc and HealthEngine and their systems are streamlined, and they are easy to use.

HOW LONG WILL YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN APPOINTMENT?

Supply of the Pfizer vaccine is limited until September and October and at most places you have to wait until September or longer to get an appointment for this vaccine.

If you are younger and not in a priority group you may have to wait until November for Pfizer.

There is plenty of supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine and you will get an appointment three times faster possibly within a few days or a week if you opt for this vaccine.