The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

I just had a look.

She has a later edit:

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and 34 minutes ago
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The Vic Guidelines are

Book an appointment

Book by calling the Victoria Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. People who are eligible and under 50 years old need to book an appointment. If you need an interpreter, call the Victoria Coronavirus Hotline 1800 675 398 and press 0.

Walk in appointments

Walk ins are allowed at some of the vaccination centres although you are encouraged to book ahead by calling 1800 675 398.

  • If you are eligible and under 50 years you need to book an appointment to get your COVID-19 vaccine. 
  • If you walk in, you should be prepared to wait until an immuniser is free to provide you with a vaccine. For current wait times, see the list at the top of this page.
  • There will be active queue management in place at these centres.
  • Please be patient and understanding while health professionals work as hard as possible to vaccinate you quickly and safely.
If you are uncomfortable with the possibility of waiting outside, then we recommend you book an appointment with your GP to get your COVID-19 vaccine.



Note

So for Pfizer you need to book an appointment unless directly invited.
That the bigger hubs in Vic have done walk-ins for AZ once they completed their soft-opening for anyone who was eligible.
No queues at the GP Respiratory Clinics
While the official line might be they stick rigidly to guideline, I suspect staff get frustrated at having spare spots and are happy to vaccinate. After we heard that over 50s were eligible from 3 May we phoned the ACT vaccination number, to enquire when we would be able to book. That was on 27 April and they just said come in this afternoon - they had plenty of spare AZ slots and were happy to vaccinate us a week early. Of course that’s a bit different to vaccinating months early, but I am sure there is a level of frustration setting in, when they have spare vaccine and not enough takers...
 
You got my hopes up, which were then dashed when seeing a later post indicating that that is not the case. I'm keen to get vaccinated so that not being vaccinated doesn't stop me travelling when a travel bubble is hopefully opened up with the UK.
Sorry to get your hopes up. I am very much in the same boat as you. Under 50 and I have no issue with getting an AZ shot. It pains me to think that shots are not being taken up or, even worse, going to waste,
 
Family at Alfred health are only able to get AZ, regardless of age.

The current DHHS list does not seem to mention family of healthcare workers.

Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine

The following people can get a COVID-19 vaccine now:

  • People who are 50 years and older
  • Hotel quarantine and border workers
  • Household contacts of hotel quarantine and border workers
  • Healthcare workers
  • Aged care staff and residents
  • Disability care staff and residents
  • Critical and high risk workers who are currently employed including:
    • defence force personnel
    • police, fire, emergency services workers
    • meat and seafood processing workers
  • The Victorian Government has expanded the priority group to include people in the following workplaces.
    • corrective and detention services including community correction staff
    • staff working within high risk accommodation settings such as. supported residential services
    • public transport drivers and workers that are public facing
    • ride share and taxi drivers
  • Adults with an underlying medical condition or significant disability
  • People that are vulnerable and at high risk of contracting or developing serious illness from COVID-19, such as:
    • those experiencing homelessness, sleeping rough, or in emergency accommodation  
    • those receiving drug and alcohol support services  
    • residents of residential mental health facilities 
    • those in sensitive accommodation including high rise/low rise public housing, supported residential services, community housing, rooming houses and others
    • prisoners in custody and detainees within corrections facilities 
  • Carers (paid and unpaid) of some individuals eligible under Phase 1a and 1b, or of children with specified medical conditions – see COVID-19 vaccination program Phase 1b for further details
  • Some disability and aged care support volunteers – see COVID-19 vaccination program Phase 1b for further details
  • Travellers who have received atravel restriction exemption from the Australian Government to leave Australia
  • People who have already had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (including individuals who have returned from interstate or overseas) can receive their second dose at the appropriate timing between doses regardless of the phase they are in. 
 
I think fear of AZ will eventually fade when the spread of Covid returns, as even medicos have been saying will happen. My daughter 40yo had AZ last week, because cases have been rising again in UK where she lives.
You see I would re-word that that it will be worth taking the risks of AZ if the risks of COVID increase again. It's not fear of AZ, rather a risk assessment balancing 2 very tiny risks against each other. In that situation, it does not take much to tip the balance either way eg more COVID suddenly makes the clotting risk worth it. Or a change in your health status may suddenly make the vaccine look more necessary and attractive.
 
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The SMH is running a story on the Front Page again tomorrow, this time with the headline "Immunity at risk over jab strategy" where it's suggested that a "comprehensive vaccination strategy" is needed "including an advertising campaign".
 
I see 2 or 3 ads every night here in Tassie urging vaccination.Put out by the Tassie government.Maybe why they at present have the highest proportion of their population vaccinated.
 
I should add that they were suggesting a Federal advertising campaign is needed. Personally, I think measures like that are probably something to be considered later in the rollout. For now, if there's not enough people being vaccinated they can just open up vaccination to more and more age groups.
 
I see 2 or 3 ads every night here in Tassie urging vaccination.Put out by the Tassie government.Maybe why they at present have the highest proportion of their population vaccinated.
That’s interesting- I wondered why Tas was doing so well. A decent advertising campaign seems like strategy 101.
 

Mostly regional, only RPA and St Vincent's are more centrally located than Olympic Park, but good to see. Also 40-49s can now register for at Blacktown as well as Olympic park.

25 new Pfizer clinics now taking bookings​

1. Bega Hospital
2. Blacktown Hospital
3. Coffs Harbour Health Campus
4. Dubbo Hospital
5. Gosford Hospital
6. Grafton Hospital
7. Griffith Hospital
8. John Hunter Hospital
9. Lismore Hospital
10. Liverpool Hospital
11. Nepean Hospital
12. NSW Health Vaccination Centre at Sydney Olympic Park
13. Orange Hospital
14. Port Macquarie Hospital
15. Queanbeyan Hospital
16. Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
17. Shellharbour Hospital
18. Shoalhaven Hospital
19. St George Hospital
20. St Vincent’s Hospital
21. Tamworth Hospital
22. The Tweed Hospital
23. Wagga Wagga Hospital
24. Westmead Hospital
25. Wollongong Hospital
 

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