The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[lovetravellingoz]

The government is still counting on one million doses per week being available throughout the country by the end of this month. So, hopefully this is about to get ramped-up.

Well currently a lot of CV19 testing staff are at a loose end.....

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The Vic Rollout was always announced to be a progressive one that would crank up vaccinations over time as more hubs and vaccination clinics were progressively opened up. This is exactly what is occurring.

In addition, some of the hubs could not actually operate till the initial storage hubs (particularly the Monash Clayton facility) gained stock on Sunday 21st, as those other Victorian hubs will gain there stock from there. Two other facilities also get direct from NSW deliveries, which they then distribute out. ie Many hubs could only start vaccinations once the three storage facilities in Vic had been supplied with stock. That stock to the other hubs and clinics could only start being distributed out from the 22nd.

Qld likewise is a in a similar distribution and logistics situation to Victoria. NSW by contrast had the logistical advantage that the Pfizer Vaccine arrived in Sydney on 15 Feb, and so NSW deployment could occur more fully earlier that in the states that have had to stock their logistics chain .

This second week now sees more hubs and clinics begin operation, and vaccination numbers are now as planned increasing.. As time goes by and AZ becomes available vaccinations will further increase as dedicated large throughput AZ facilities will also open, and also GP distribution will begin.




Extract from the March 2 Vic DHHS report.

Update: Vaccinations​

A total of 1156 COVID-19 vaccination doses were administered yesterday at hospital vaccination hubs across Victoria.

This brings the total number of vaccine doses administered in Victoria since the program started on Monday 22 February to 5020.

The rollout is ramping up, with two more hospital vaccination hubs in regional Victoria opening their doors yesterday and more sites set to open across the state in coming weeks.

We are on track to deliver all confirmed vaccines received from the Commonwealth. That means more than 40,000 vaccines will be administered through our hospital vaccination hubs in the first four weeks of the program.

Six hospital vaccination hubs have commenced operating, managed by Monash Health, Western Health, Austin Health, Barwon Health, Bendigo Health and Ballarat Health Services.

Hubs also undertake outreach delivery. Western Health has established a vaccination site at Melbourne Airport and Barwon Health will vaccinate workers at the Port of Portland. Hubs are also vaccinating public sector aged care residents and staff.

We are in discussions with the Commonwealth about the number of additional AstraZeneca vaccines Victoria may receive. This could see Victoria deliver even more vaccines in the first phases of the Commonwealth's program than anticipated.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Qld ramping up too:

 

[lovetravellingoz]

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Vic still ramping up. Though the current rate, even if not further accelerated, would see them exceed the one month target of 40,000 vaccinations.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Everyone needs to ramp up now - use the Pfizer week 1 and 2 shipments possibly earlier than planned - as Astra Zeneca (300,000 doses) is coming online next week

I think the local production of Astra Zeneca is due to be in stock at the end of March, then hopefully over 1m doses per week

 

[tgh]

Chatting to the GP yesterday, he is busily "doing" his Covid vaccination modules on line and the practice is preparing for action.
It is a fairly large practice and they expect to be busy..

 

[Pushka]

Chatting to the GP yesterday, he is busily "doing" his Covid vaccination modules on line and the practice is preparing for action.
It is a fairly large practice and they expect to be busy..

Our small GP practice isn't doing the vaccinations so I will need to go elsewhere. Don't think the pharmac_ there will be doing 1b which is where I sit so I'll have to go shopping for a space.

 

[Pushka]

Astra Zeneca roll out starts in SA tomorrow.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Everyone needs to ramp up now - use the Pfizer week 1 and 2 shipments possibly earlier than planned - as Astra Zeneca (300,000 doses) is coming online next week

I think the local production of Astra Zeneca is due to be in stock at the end of March, then hopefully over 1m doses per week

Yes, ramping up always part of the plan and especially once AZ local production kicks in the weekly numbers will be so much greater.

 

[dajop]

Yes, ramping up always part of the plan and especially once AZ local production kicks in the weekly numbers will be so much greater.

A bit like a flight , you don't jump straight from boarding to cruising altitude, there's doors closing, pushback, taxi, takeoff, climb ... hopefully all done without hiccup and no warning lights coming on ....

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Astra Zeneca roll out starts in SA tomorrow.

Was there any information on whether they will be distributed through the phase 1a hubs or otherwise ?

 

[Pushka]

Was there any information on whether they will be distributed through the phase 1a hubs or otherwise ?

They are being taken to front line people in Murray Bridge. So I’m assuming hospital staff because there would be no other relevant people in SA working at that location. My thoughts we aren’t talking many doses here.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

They are being taken to front line people in Murray Bridge. So I’m assuming hospital staff because there would be no other relevant people in SA working at that location. My thoughts we aren’t talking many doses here.

Though in addition to hospital staff in Murray Bridge you might have some of from 1a

Frontline health care worker sub-groups for prioritisation

• frontline staff in facilities or services such as hospital emergency departments,COVID-19 and respiratory wards, Intensive Care Units and High-dependency Units
• ambulance and paramedics service
• GP respiratory clinics
• COVID-19 testing facilities

Aged care and disability care staff

• nursing and personal care staff
• allied health professionals who routinely provide care
• kitchen, cleaning, laundry, garden and office staff

 

[Pushka]

Though in addition to hospital staff in Murray Bridge you might have some of from 1a

Frontline health care worker sub-groups for prioritisation

• frontline staff in facilities or services such as hospital emergency departments,COVID-19 and respiratory wards, Intensive Care Units and High-dependency Units
• ambulance and paramedics service
• GP respiratory clinics
• COVID-19 testing facilities

Aged care and disability care staff

• nursing and personal care staff
• allied health professionals who routinely provide care
• kitchen, cleaning, laundry, garden and office staff

Certainly emergency staff and ambulances. Possibly aged care. It’s not that large a town for the specialised clinics although it does have a large indigenous population. Just heard on the radio that 1000 doses arrived there today. Be wonderful if they managed that number efficiently.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

It does

Certainly emergency staff and ambulances. Possibly aged care. It’s not that large a town for the specialised clinics although it does have a large indigenous population. Just heard on the radio that 1000 doses arrived there today. Be wonderful if they managed that number efficiently.

sounds like they are continuing the phase 1a but are prepared to set up closer to where the workers work instead of making them go to the hub. So a win-win in convenience (at least those working near there )

 

[DC3]

Murray Bridge, for those who have never been there, is a bit larger than a one horse town. About a one-hour drive from Adelaide.

Seems an interesting choice as an initial part of the roll-out. Maybe that is the purpose.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

It does

sounds like they are continuing the phase 1a but are prepared to set up closer to where the workers work instead of making them go to the hub. So a win-win in convenience (at least those working near there )

One advantage of AZ is that it is easier to store, so easier to rollout more widely.

 

[DC3]

90 doses expected to be administered tomorrow:

Frontline staff in regional SA town to be first in nation to get Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID jab

Edited

 

[Pushka]

90 doses expected to be administered tomorrow:

Frontline staff in regional SA town to be first in nation to get Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID jab

Edited

90. Sigh.