Vaccine Rollout in Australia - personal accounts.

[Flying mermaid]

I got a message yesterday to say it was available - hadn’t checked prior to that. So that was 4 days.

 

[Solid]

I got my second Pfizer yesterday at Sydney Olympic Park (also got first one), digital certificate done when I just logged into mygov

 

[OATEK]

I suspect that the issue of the digital vaccination certificate depends largely on how and when the second dose is issued. One GP I know only does AZ vaccinations on a Wednesday, but will offer any left over to others that attend in dribs and drabs over the following day or two. The vaccination day records are uploaded fairly quickly but the others might be held for several days. My AZ certificate was available within 48 hrs, but mrsoatek had hers out of session on a Friday and will likely not see it appear for up to 5 days.

 

[drron]

Well a 1 week delay isn't great, but seeing it can't be used to get any freedoms back yet there's not really any rush.

The record of my second shot was on there before I got home about 5 minutes after the shot.
What has appeared today is my vaccine certificate which I thought was issued 14 days after second vaccination shot.Maybe a little longer for the certificate as done in different States.

 

[dairyfloss]

SWMBO and I had our 1st Pfizer jabs at Sydney Olympic Park mass vax center on the 30th June. On the day/time that we were there it was organized mayhem, with the system / digital check-in down, and everything being done with paper forms. I felt for the NSW Health team, but many others had trouble minding their anger (including my frustrated SWMBO, who I had assured about a smooth process to look forward to... lesson learned there! ).

We parked at the nearby P3 lot about 30 mins prior to our 1:30PM booking time, and made our way across to the centre. On arrival we found a large queue, which snaked around from the entry and up Figtree Dr almost to Olympic Blvd! We then found a support staff member who said this was the 12:30-45 queue, and we needed to go around to find the 1:30-1:45 queue for our group. The 1:00-1:15 queue ran alongside the building down Australia Ave and up Herb Elliott Ave, and we joined ours about 50 metres down that, in an already lengthy adjacent queue. They said they were running about an hour behind to appointments.

Staff walked up and down and sighted appointment times on slips and devices to ensure we were in the right queues, and indicated that these were slower than usual check-ins due to the digital method not being available. They did indicate it was still quite quick though, once underway with the check-in. True to what was said earlier, our group started moving about an hour after we first had expected to, and we were ushered in with coloured stickers to indicate what shot we were there for. Everyone was directed to the physically distanced waiting area and given paper forms and pens to complete the same detail that was given on the booking pre-registration online (as that wasn't accessible by check-in or nurses). Before we could fill in more than a few fields on the forms, we were called to a nurse station for our shots. We completed the remainder of the form there, and a brief consultation and a few questions later my wife and I were done and moved into the observation seats for about 15 mins.

We left the centre at about 2:45PM. I have to say that given everything was being done manually, it was still quite a solid operation. The team did well in tough circumstances, and I hope they don't have to deal with that too frequently, although a chat with a mate who had done his 2 shots in the past month indicated he had an experience of each, as well - the digital and manual check in - on his two visits in June.

All I am concerned with now is that it is 12 days since the first jab, and no update to mine or my wife's Medicare record. With no official check in and only manual paperwork, I'm a tad nervous. I have my 2nd booked for the 21st July, and don't want to run into trouble on the day with no record of jab 1. Has anyone had to go through manually and has seen their shot appear in Medicare? How long did that take?

Oh... and no side effects at all for me. SWMBO had some injection site and arm soreness for a day or so, and also suffered a very important meeting cancellation for trusting my predictions on efficiency at the location. Yes, yes - I already said 'lesson learned', dear.

Cheers,
Matt.

Went back to Olympic Park for our 2nd Pfizer jabs today, and was pleased to find that the systems were up, and digital check-in was online. Quite a bit more efficient than it was 3 weeks back, however not worlds apart. It was obviously still busy, with bookings running about 30-45 mins behind, but the number of people they get through here with only that margin of adjustment is just incredible. You read the numbers in the pressers, but seeing it is something else.

Today's dose for me was at a nurse station with a trainee. Everything went quite well, except that the shot itself wasn't as 'unnoticeable' as the last, and I think I spilt a fair bit more claret than one should expect to when the aim is to add fluids, rather than to subtract them

Anyway; no harm done (or at least, not much) and so far, so good on the side effects. Maybe I'm feeling a little bit hazier than usual... but barely the equivalent of missing an hour's sleep. That kind of feeling.

Excited to be fully Bi-Pfi enabled!
Go get 'em if you can!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Lynda2475]

Got my second Pfizer shot at Olympic Park this morning. Arrived 20 mins early and there was zero queue (vs one that snaked right around the block last time), waved straight in. Less than 2 mins from arrival, to scan, to having the shot in my arm.

Weirdly this time I was made to wait for 30 mins observation instead of 15mins, I am allergic to Penicillin (anaphylaxis) and was sat in chair right at front, could hear the nurse asking everyone if first or second shot. Of the 100 or so people who walked past me all but two were there for 2nd shots. No idea why 15 mins was fine last time, but not this time, but nurse said I looked fine and let me leave after 25 mins anyway.

I'm guessing lock down means a lot of people with appointments from Fairfield, Liverpool and Bankstown LGAs have had to rebook into somewhere in their area and also others wouldn't want to get Public Transport as that train line goes via coughberland LGA which has very high case load too. I Ubered so no issues.

Its worth checking to see if spots have opened up at Olympic Park as was definitely much less busy than 3 weeks ago.

Interesting chatting with Uber driver who was 38, he tried to get AZ at his local GP (supply wasn't an issue obviously) and the GP refused as said under 40s not eligible, he argued and showed him the web site but no joy. So seems some GP don't understand the rules. He then went to another random GP and was jabbed yesterday. I told him to report his own GP to the AMA as the refusal wasn't based on medical advice but on the GP being ignorant of the roll-out options.

 

[nickykim]

Headed off to Jeffs Shed this morning and am now fully vaccinated (AZ). I was asked a lot more re pre-existing condition, reactions and interaction with chemo this time, so maybe they are starting to id that this group may be experiencing something different. I’m fully ready for my next chemo on Tuesday to knock my socks off! Onwards and upwards.

 

[Pushka]

Headed off to Jeffs Shed this morning and am now fully vaccinated (AZ). I was asked a lot more re pre-existing condition, reactions and interaction with chemo this time, so maybe they are starting to id that this group may be experiencing something different. I’m fully ready for my next chemo on Tuesday to knock my socks off! Onwards and upwards.

Fantastic effort in navigating this with your other serious health issues. Best wishes.

 

[dylarr]

I'm guessing lock down means a lot of people with appointments from Fairfield, Liverpool and Bankstown LGAs have had to rebook into somewhere in their area and also others wouldn't want to get Public Transport as that train line goes via coughberland LGA which has very high case load too.

At the Olympic Park Vaccination Centre people from Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown LGAs are being filtered out of the main lines and sent to a satellite pod around the back of the centre to be vaccinated. The satellite pod is detached from main building so there is no mixing with people from those LGAs in the main building at all. All of the waiting at the satellite pod is outdoors in fresh air, you're only taken indoors once it's your turn to be vaccinated and for observation so minimal time spent inside.

 

[dairyfloss]

At the Olympic Park Vaccination Centre people from Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown LGAs are being filtered out of the main lines and sent to a satellite pod around the back of the centre to be vaccinated. The satellite pod is detached from main building so there is no mixing with people from those LGAs in the main building at all. All of the waiting at the satellite pod is outdoors in fresh air, you're only taken indoors once it's your turn to be vaccinated and for observation so minimal time spent inside.

I was there yesterday and didn’t see any of this happening… or at least it was very discreet if it was. Was the filtering being done after the digital check in, moving folks into those other spaces from there, rather than being put inside into the indoor waiting and observation areas?

 

[dylarr]

I was there yesterday and didn’t see any of this happening… or at least it was very discreet if it was. Was the filtering being done after the digital check in, moving folks into those other spaces from there, rather than being put inside into the indoor waiting and observation areas?

The filtering was being done before the digital check in. Staff checking that people were in the right line for their time slot out on the footpath were putting a different sticker on you and sending you around the back if you were from one of the 3 LGAs. Around the back, there are separate detached buildings being used for vaccination and observation.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Interesting chatting with Uber driver who was 38, he tried to get AZ at his local GP (supply wasn't an issue obviously) and the GP refused as said under 40s not eligible, he argued and showed him the web site but no joy. So seems some GP don't understand the rules. He then went to another random GP and was jabbed yesterday. I told him to report his own GP to the AMA as the refusal wasn't based on medical advice but on the GP being ignorant of the roll-out options.

GPs have every right to refuse to give the vaccine to their patient, regardless of what the guidelines are be it from the TGA or ATAGI. At the end of the day, they have to weigh the relative risk of the patient getting COVID versus the risk of blood clotting with AZ. However, the patients also have every right to get a second or third opinion from another GP. I can understand the apprehension the GPs have towards the AZ jab, but it's based on emotion rather than rational analysis in my opinion. Every 3 years I have to go in for a colonoscopy, and there is a small but non-trivial chance of a complication during the procedure (around 5%). However, I still get the procedure since the risk of colorectal cancer, polyps and inflammation in my GI tract is greater than the risk of complications.

If I do have a criticism of the current rollout it's that GPs aren't being forthcoming with their patients about who they are interested in vaccinating. If GPs made it clear before you booked an appointment with them online that hey we're only doing 60+/Phase 1a/1b, then people wouldn't waste their time on those options and focus on the clinics that are relevant to them.

At the Olympic Park Vaccination Centre people from Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown LGAs are being filtered out of the main lines and sent to a satellite pod around the back of the centre to be vaccinated. The satellite pod is detached from main building so there is no mixing with people from those LGAs in the main building at all. All of the waiting at the satellite pod is outdoors in fresh air, you're only taken indoors once it's your turn to be vaccinated and for observation so minimal time spent inside.

One of the myths that I hope will be dispelled soon is this notion that NSW Health has all the answers when it comes to vaccine rollout. Yes these vaccine hubs are a great help and yes quite a few people are being vaccinated but the state-run program. However, the bulk of the heavy lifting goes to the GP, respiratory and Commonwealth-run clinics. If Sydneysiders understood this they would realize that there is plenty of vaccine appointments to go around, it's just a matter of looking at the whole network, not just the hubs.

-KangarooFlyer88

 

[drron]

Though if you book a vaccine jab through hotdoc the questions are asked upfront.Here in Tassie when I wanted to book my second AZ I had to answer which vaccine I wanted and whether first or second dose.The list for a second dose was only for a few days which did not suit me.About a week later though a Melbourne outbreak occurred and the number of days increased.The State hubs were not offering AZ.
You also then had to fill in a questionnaire.Your age is known.The GP gave the right advice in a previous post as Pfizer is not officially open to under 40s.Being an Uber driver doesn't occur in the essential worker list that GPs are meant to stick to.

COVID-19 vaccination program for people aged under 40

Learn more about eligibility for people aged under 40 in the COVID-19 vaccination program.

www.health.gov.au

 

[louie-m]

.The GP gave the right advice in a previous post as Pfizer is not officially open to under 40s.Being an Uber driver doesn't occur in the essential worker list that GPs are meant to stick to.

The Uber driver was after AZ.

Post automatically merged: Jul 23, 2021

GPs have every right to refuse to give the vaccine to their patient, regardless of what the guidelines are be it from the TGA or ATAGI. At the end of the day, they have to weigh the relative risk of the patient getting COVID versus the risk of blood clotting with AZ.

It didn't sound as though the doctor had weighed up anything though. The Uber driver seemed clear that he was refused AZ purely because he was under 40 and the doctor thought he was not eligible, full stop.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Some of the GPs seem less than helpful. A lady I know went to her regular GP to be vaccinated. She had Polio as a child and has minimal feeling in her legs. Her GP refused to give her AZ on the grounds that she wouldn’t be able to detect a clot because of the lack of sensation in her legs. He told her she wouldn’t be able to be vaccinated because her age group wasn’t eligible for Pfizer. No attempt to contact ACT Health or advise to her to do so.

Last I heard she was going to Brisbane to visit her daughter, who was going to sort it out …..

 

[dairyfloss]

The filtering was being done before the digital check in. Staff checking that people were in the right line for their time slot out on the footpath were putting a different sticker on you and sending you around the back if you were from one of the 3 LGAs. Around the back, there are separate detached buildings being used for vaccination and observation.

ok - may have only started after Wednesday. They checked times but nothing about where we were from (and that's not the SW, thankfully)

 

[kyle]

I think I can say I'm 5G compliant now? Got my 2nd dose of Pfizer this morning at MCEC. They seemed to ask many more questions compared to the 1st shot. Before entering the building, had to scan a non-govt code which took me to the RMH site asking whether you're in isolation, been to exposure sites, etc etc. Then at the point of registration, the bloody same questions again!!!

Now 2 hours later, still no update on myGov yet.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I think I can say I'm 5G compliant now? Got my 2nd dose of Pfizer this morning at MCEC. They seemed to ask many more questions compared to the 1st shot. Before entering the building, had to scan a non-govt code which took me to the RMH site asking whether you're in isolation, been to exposure sites, etc etc. Then at the point of registration, the bloody same questions again!!!

Now 2 hours later, still no update on myGov yet.

Was like that for me at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton last month. mygov update came through that night.

 

[jeza]

Regional WA report.

Just had 2nd Pfizer dose and in the waiting room doing the 15 minutes. Took about 5-10 minutes from the moment I entered the building until jabbed.

Vaccination certificate has already appeared in myGov account with both injection dates listed.

No queue but steady trickle of people going through.

 

[Pushka]

In SA it was asked if people needed to cancel their vaccination if they'd been directed to test and quarantine (as opposed to general lockdown) . If it was an appointment for the first dose then the direction was to cancel and rebook. If it was for the second dose then you had to email a special account and they would provide staff in full PPE and sterile location for it to be done but not to cancel the second jab.