Vaccine has new phase
THE nation’s vaccine program has entered another chapter with Australians older than 50 able to roll up their sleeves at their local GP.
It’s been two weeks since the vaccine was made available to Aussies aged 50 to 70 but only at major vaccine hubs and specialist clinics. Now, more than 4000 GPs will join the program.
From Monday anyone in that age bracket could visit one of the thousands of GP clinics across Australia that are registered to be part of the rollout.
“There are over 4300 GPs delivering vaccines to people aged 50 years and over from May 17,” the Department of Health said in a statement.
“More than 1500 of those are in the regions, in regional, rural and remote Australia.”
Scott Morrison on Sunday confirmed the news while speaking from Gladstone in Queensland: “If you are over 50, you can go to your GP who are providing these vaccines.
“So, I think we will continue to see that build.”
He said a record number of 30,000 Australians were vaccinated on Saturday alone.
“We tripped over the three million mark on Friday, as I said we would,” Mr Morrison said. “And we’re seeing the vaccination program just go from strength to strength and the rollout with states and territories again amping up next week.
“I think we’ll continue to see that build. But all the way through we’ll be guided by the medical advice, we’ll be guided by the economic advice.”
About 85 per cent of those in aged care have been vaccinated as Mr Morrison urged older Aussies to get the jab.
“We still need more people aged over 70 to go and get those vaccines,” he said.
“That’s a very high priority for us because if there were to be an outbreak in Australia, they are the Australians most at risk, and that’s where our focus is most at the moment.”
Patients will be offered the AstraZeneca shot, but anyone younger than 50 is advised to get the Pfizer dose instead. Phase 2a of the rollout includes people older than 50, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 16 to 49 or other critical or high-risk workers.