The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[mviy]

Some hope of progress:

One million people in NSW able to register for Pfizer vaccine

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says adults aged 40 to 49 will be able to formally express interest today to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine “within weeks”.

www.smh.com.au

So it sounds like 2B will be started in 10 year groups which makes sense with the limited supply.

 

[Princess Fiona]

So with the Olympic Park mass vaccination site opening up today (although not accessible to anyone but 1A or 1B until 24th May), Gladys announced that NSW is also bringing forward Pfizer accessibility for 40-49 year old's at this site possibly by the end of the month.

If that is so, it will be worth taking a leave day to get Pfizer jab as soon as available.

Mass vaccination centre opens

The mass vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park has opened today with thousands of people booked in to receive the COVID-19 vaccine this

www.miragenews.com

One million people in NSW able to register for Pfizer vaccine

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says adults aged 40 to 49 will be able to formally express interest today to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine “within weeks”.

www.smh.com.au

During its first weeks of operation, the centre will focus on delivering Pfizer vaccinations to priority groups including healthcare workers, emergency services workers as well as quarantine and border workers and their households.

Members of the general public aged 40-49 are invited to register their interest in receiving the Pfizer vaccine through NSW Health. They will be contacted when a booking is available. People aged 40-49 can register from 5pm today.

From Wednesday 12 May, people aged 50 and over can book their AstraZeneca jab at the mass vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park, if they are unable to obtain the vaccination from their GP. These bookings will be available via the Vaccine Eligibility Checker.

I made an appointment for my son through the online booking facility today. He is in 1B.
Seemed to work quite well

 

[openseat]

Two members of our team (based in QLD) went to the mass vaccination clinic in Victoria and got their shot as well.

VIC is now streaking ahead with vaccination numbers (nowhere near enough of course, but certainly miles in front of any other state).

Can't wait until the other states open their mass vaccination centres.

Qld seems to be obstinate about not having mass vaccination clinics - which seems to indicate there is a high level of incompetency in the Health Department and that Qld has been incredibly lucky.

I got my first shot (2a) this morning at a large medical clinic that I booked online through the commonwealth's vaccine website. They kindly acceded to my request to aspirate before injection.

 

[mviy]

The 40-49 for NSW is essentially a wait list so that if not enough people register in the older age groups to use all the Pfizer doses for a week they can get some of the 40-49 cohort to use up the remaining doses.

 

[Lynda2475]

The 40-49 for NSW is essentially a wait list so that if not enough people register in the older age groups to use all the Pfizer doses for a week they can get some of the 40-49 cohort to use up the remaining doses.

50+ aren't eligible for Pfizer unless they are a resident of aged care, they get AZ. It will at the start be left over Pfizer doses from 1a and 1b under 50s.

Olympic Park is exclusively administering Pfizer to 1a and 1B until 24th May when AZ is added for over 50s who did go to a respiratory clinic (where AZ has been available to 50+ since 3rd May) or GP (where AZ will be available form 17th May).

NSW Health is probably expecting to finish the remaining 1A and 1B before 24th May, hence then moving to open up the Pfizer section of Olympic Park to 40-49s. There has been no mention of offering Pfizer to any over 50s.

If you are 49 you'd want to register fast or you will only have option of AZ once your Birthday arrives.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The 40-49 for NSW is essentially a wait list so that if not enough people register in the older age groups to use all the Pfizer doses for a week they can get some of the 40-49 cohort to use up the remaining doses.

I’m not sure it will be a wait list unless they have a sophisticated booking system which can separate out that age group.
The current online booking takes you to the appointments page once you have entered the appropriate details.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Continuing with my quest to get people vaccinated, I was getting a filling done and asked the dental assistant whether she had been vaccinated. Due to the high risk of aerosols, they come under 1b. No she said I don’t want to be vaccinated. Why not said I? Because of the clots. But you are under 50, so you will get Pfizer. Oh - isn’t that the one with clots? Nope that’s Astra Zeneca. Oh - but I still don’t want to - there’s not enough information. Sigh. . My dentist has had his first jab. His wife (who is also a dentist), will be vaccinated after he has had his second jab - “just in case”.

 

[Lynda2475]

From:

Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccines are provided by the Australian Government and are free for everyone in Australia regardless of Medicare or visa status. Here’s what you need to know about COVID-19 vaccination.

www.nsw.gov.au

If you are 40 to 49 years of age but not yet eligible, we encourage you to register your interest with us now so we can let you know when you can make an appointment at the centre for your Pfizer vaccination.

You can register your interest through Service NSW.

 

[Flying mermaid]

50+ aren't eligible for Pfizer unless they are a resident of aged care, they get AZ. It will at the start be left over Pfizer doses from 1a and 1b under 50s.

Olympic Park is exclusively administering Pfizer to 1a and 1B until 24th May when AZ is added for over 50s who did go to a respiratory clinic (where AZ has been available to 50+ since 3rd May) or GP (where AZ will be available form 17th May).

NSW Health is probably expecting to finish the remaining 1A and 1B before 24th May, hence then moving to open up the Pfizer section of Olympic Park to 40-49s. There has been no mention of offering Pfizer to any over 50s.

If you are 49 you'd want to register fast or you will only have option of AZ once your Birthday arrives.

In the ACT 50+ can get Pfizer if their GP gives them a letter stating they have a medical condition which makes Pfizer preferable. Not sure what the medical conditions are, but apparently there are some.

 

[Princess Fiona]

From:

Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccines are provided by the Australian Government and are free for everyone in Australia regardless of Medicare or visa status. Here’s what you need to know about COVID-19 vaccination.

www.nsw.gov.au

If you are 40 to 49 years of age but not yet eligible, we encourage you to register your interest with us now so we can let you know when you can make an appointment at the centre for your Pfizer vaccination.

You can register your interest through Service NSW.

Thanks for that. Hadn’t seen that page

 

[Lynda2475]

In the ACT 50+ can get Pfizer if their GP gives them a letter stating they have a medical condition which makes Pfizer preferable. Not sure what the medical conditions are, but apparently there are some.

That maybe the case here too with a referral but they cant just register for Pfizer at Olympic Park - they would be screened to AZ without manual intervention.

My point was the left over Pfizer doses at Olympic Park wont be due to over 50s as by default there is no Pfizer allocation for them. It will be from younger 1a and 1b eligible people.

 

[mviy]

I’m not sure it will be a wait list unless they have a sophisticated booking system which can separate out that age group.
The current online booking takes you to the appointments page once you have entered the appropriate details.

Well I based what I said off what I saw the NSW Premier say (start watching about 1 minute and 45 seconds into the video):
NSW 40 to 49 year olds encouraged to register for Pfizer jab from today

Presumably they will book in the week's vaccinations well ahead of time. If they have some slots spare they will contact those on the waiting list to fill up the remaining slots.

The NSW government wants to minimise any wastage of Pfizer doses as there is limited supply and a lot of people to vaccinate.

 

[Flying mermaid]

That maybe the case here too with a referral but they cant just register for Pfizer at Olympic Park - they would be screened to AZ without manual intervention.

My point was the left over Pfizer doses at Olympic Park wont be due to over 50s as by default there is no Pfizer allocation for them. It will be from younger 1a and 1b eligible people.

But presumably there will be some sort of manual intervention to allow those people access if they need it, or are there multiple places where you can get Pfizer. We small town people are used to only having one place you can get Pfizer

 

[Lynda2475]

I just registered (although the paper says 5pm), the link (per my post above) is already active.

Id say from the questions they ask they plan to give priority to certain occupations:

 

[mviy]

If NSW starts doing Pfizer for my age group before I can get it in VIC, I would consider flying there to get the vaccine. If they prioritise for different occupations I’d be near the back of the queue though.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

 

[Lynda2475]

From SMH:



At our current pace of roughly 403,000 doses a week, we can expect to reach the 40 million doses needed to fully vaccinate Australia’s adult population in mid February 2023.

 

[Lynda2475]

The official report form Health.Gov.au:


Still tracking poorly at same point in time (1/3 of UK for same point, we had way ore time to plan than they did):

 

[Pushka]

From SMH:

View attachment 247598

At our current pace of roughly 403,000 doses a week, we can expect to reach the 40 million doses needed to fully vaccinate Australia’s adult population in mid February 2023.

But just like epidemiological predictions, we are changing the rate of vaccination with each new hub opening. And so predictions rapidly become erroneous.

 

[Lynda2475]

Great to see the feds finally publishing the doses distributed: