Vaccine Rollout in Australia - personal accounts.

[DC3]

… I will contact the Royal Melbourne Hospital and see what they say.

It will be interesting to hear of their response.

The GP clinic where I received my 2 x AZ was pretty quick off the mark. The 2nd was showing later that same day, and the 1st was within 24 hours, but probably sooner as I didn’t check the Medicare record until the next day.

 

[drron]

Both my and mrsdrron's records were uploaded immediately.One of the benefits of going to a GP for your jab.

 

[Seat0B]

Both my and mrsdrron's records were uploaded immediately.One of the benefits of going to a GP for your jab.

Yes, but I did go to my own GP for the first shot and it did not upload onto my immunisation record even though I received it three weeks ago. Anyway, it was easy enough to fix by calling in to the practice to ask about it. And they fixed it on the spot. But I will pay close attention to be sure the second shot uploads.

 

[Pushka]

Both my and mrsdrron's records were uploaded immediately.One of the benefits of going to a GP for your jab.

I went to a GP clinic for first and it was uploaded that night. Went to a respiratory clinic for the second one and it was done during the 15 minute wait.

 

[DC3]

Yes, but I did go to my own GP for the first shot and it did not upload onto my immunisation record even though I received it three weeks ago. Anyway, it was easy enough to fix by calling in to the practice to ask about it. And they fixed it on the spot. But I will pay close attention to be sure the second shot uploads.

Good that it worked out in the end. I wonder how many are monitoring their Medicare record.

My guess would be that a GP clinic would be much easier to deal with than, say, a Hospital bureaucracy.

 

[DC3]

I went to a GP clinic for first and it was uploaded that night. Went to a respiratory clinic for the second one and it was done during the 15 minute wait.

Yes, but that was in Adelaide.

And the GP clinic was in a dodgy area, wasn’t it? But, worked out well, anyway.

 

[Pushka]

Yes, but that was in Adelaide.

And the GP clinic was in a dodgy area, wasn’t it? But, worked out well, anyway.

Not dodgy but not an area I frequent. They are very helpful with indigenous issues and were incredibly organisef for the covid vaccination given this was the first day it was open to the general population in 1b and one of the very few GP practices in Australia offered 300 vaccinations on day one. . And it was seamless.

 

[Steady]

Just had my 2nd dose of AJ, waiting the 15 minutes out. The nurse suggested I may get a sore shoulder again - as I did / because I did the first Time

 

[OATEK]

MrsOatek had already been invited by her GP to bring her second AZ forward to the 9 week mark. Then got a call last evening to say that doses left over this week, so to bring it further forward by 5 days. So should have us both done by the weekend.

 

[Pushka]

MrsOatek had already been invited by her GP to bring her second AZ forward to the 9 week mark. Then got a call last evening to say that doses left over this week, so to bring it further forward by 5 days. So should have us both done by the weekend.

Great to see the backfill happening.

 

[glasszon]

I would rather not get my wife to get a third shot if possible, Pfizer is in short supply in Australia and she would be taking it away from someone who needs it to be fully vaccinated. Not sure about the health aspect though, has there been any studies about a third Pfizer shot yet?

I will contact the Royal Melbourne Hospital and see what they say.

I contacted the Royal Melbourne Hospital and both shots appear on the covid 19 vaccine system, they will investigate to see why the first dose is missing from medicare. If anyone has the same problem, contact the service provider and they should be able to help.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Just thought I'd check in to report that even I, KangarooFlyer88, on a visitor Visa can even access their COVID-19 Digital Certificate online:


Here were the steps to get to this glorious outcome:

1. Sign up for an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) which is required for those who can't get Medicare (e.g. those on visitor visas)
2. Once you receive the IHI via snail mail, book your COVID-19 appointment via the HotDoc Clinic finder tool.
3. When you show up for your vaccination appointments, show them your IHI number
4. Go to my.gov.au and sign up for a MyGov account (if you don't have one already), you'll use your foreign passport number linked to your Visa to verify your identity
5. Link the Individual Healthcare Identifier service to your account (you'll need to enter that 16 digit code in the letter you received)
6. Once those are all linked, it's just a matter of clicking into the service and selecting the vaccination information.

Your (Fully) Vaccinated,

KangarooFlyer88

 

[Seat0B]

I know this is not the right thread, but there is nowhere else that I could find, so please moderator move to the right place.

I want to give a huge shout out to the staff from ACT Health operating the COVID Testing Centre at the Canberra Showgrounds today in pouring rain, howling wind and 8 degree temperatures. I had occasion to get a test today, as I have what will certainly turn out to be the same cold that has affected my whole extended family this week (others got symptoms earlier and have all had negative COVID tests).

Every single one of them from first nurse handing out info and masks, to the security traffic directing staff, and then all those involved in paperwork and the actual testing were just wonderful. Polite, pleasant, professional, thanked us for waiting and for coming in for testing, and so very efficient. Thank you. I have submitted a feedback form to ACT govt to this effect as well, but I really hope one or more of you is an AFFer and gets a little boost from knowing that you were appreciated today.

 

[OATEK]

My eldest daughter (41) had her second AZ shot 3 weeks ago, and I had mine today. Older daughter had quite a few friends in their 40s who became quite ill, and the local NHS GP recommended they get whatever is available. So like 40% of persons vaccinated in UK she joined the AZ queue. Mrsoatek has had her first AZ and at 8 week mark, so will check with her GP whether to bring second shot forward.

Younger daughter waiting for Pfizer here, but hopefully can snare one with the vaccine becoming available locally in next week or so.

Just an update and data point. My daughter (41) went to a gathering about 2 weeks ago, where someone (it turns out later) was infected with the delta strain. Both my daughter (AZ) and husband (Pfizer) were not infected (and have been tested as clear), but about 6 others were. A good news story if ever I heard one about the value of the vaccines.

[Edit: just to be clear, they live in UK, and the gathering was allowed under the rules in place.]

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

A former colleague in their 40s in Sydney so thrilled this morning got a last minute Pfizer jab from the local GP - but the GP doesn't have any spare Pfizer slots for the second shot, so has to go now to find where else might have 2nd shot available.

 

[OATEK]

My younger daughter and husband are booked in for their two pfizer shots at a local GP surgery in August. Very encouraging and once again shows the value of multiple delivery options.

 

[admin]

I joined the AZ club on Monday. Booked in at one of Melbourne's mass vaccination clinics. Very smooth, professional, and organised. Was out within an hour - I know because I had to pay for only 1 hour parking!

48 hours later, my arm is still a bit tender. Otherwise all normal so far...

My 2nd AZ vaccination was booked in for early August, but decided to bring it forward by 2 weeks after listening to Norman Swan. Walked into the Sandringham hospital this morning - paperwork and jab completed in under 30 minutes, with very little waiting. So very impressed with the professionalism of the staff. And thankful too.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Had my first AZ shot very reluctantly today at 1.30pm at my regular GP. Feeling very disposable as a person of 60.5 years. Feeling railroaded and resentful. Actually cried a few tears of rage, despair and frustration in the 15 minute wait and not one person even asked me if I was ok. I’ve just been a compliant sheep.

Jab itself totally painless. Not given any information at all about clotting side effects or how to even know if I get a clot. Oh well, it’s done.

.

That’s terrible - at the hubs you get given about 8 sheets of info, including what to look for in the way of clots. I would be putting in a complaint!

 

[Flying mermaid]

I know this is not the right thread, but there is nowhere else that I could find, so please moderator move to the right place.

I want to give a huge shout out to the staff from ACT Health operating the COVID Testing Centre at the Canberra Showgrounds today in pouring rain, howling wind and 8 degree temperatures. I had occasion to get a test today, as I have what will certainly turn out to be the same cold that has affected my whole extended family this week (others got symptoms earlier and have all had negative COVID tests).

Every single one of them from first nurse handing out info and masks, to the security traffic directing staff, and then all those involved in paperwork and the actual testing were just wonderful. Polite, pleasant, professional, thanked us for waiting and for coming in for testing, and so very efficient. Thank you. I have submitted a feedback form to ACT govt to this effect as well, but I really hope one or more of you is an AFFer and gets a little boost from knowing that you were appreciated today.

Mr FM has had 3 tests there now and they have always been fantastic

 

[Flying mermaid]

Mr FM and I had our second AZ on Thursday. It was at the 11 week mark, but it was booked like that by ACT Health in April. Not sure why - maybe they like to have a week in reserve in case an appointment has to get cancelled.

this time we were at the Calvary Clinic, rather than Garran, as they have split AZ and Pfizer into different clinics. Bit of a different feel, as Garran had a flash setup because it’s brand new - it was built as a Field hospital, then used for testing and now it is vaccination.

this time we were taken into a room, jabbed and then sent off to a waiting room where you sat for 15 minutes, then handed your piece of paper to the lady guarding the exit. It had your times written on, so no doing a runner like JohnM.

before jabbing me the nurse examined the label on the needle very intently and then went away, came back without it and then another one arrived so there must have been an issue.

we had to wear a mask the whole time, so no sitting and relaxing and eating lollipops this time. There were lollipops at the nurse’s desk, but she didn’t offer one

Mr FM has had no side effects, I have had quite a sore arm, mainly at the injection site, but better today.

all 7 FMs are now fully vaccinated - we (the oldest), were the last ones.