Healthcare workers in the ACT are to be among the first local people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine administered by the ACT Government.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the vaccine rollout was an important milestone in the Territory’s management of the virus, but one that presented significant logistical challenges for all Governments in Australia.
“It will be a process that will take time,” Mr Barr said.
“This first, initial step is in line with the National Strategy for the vaccine rollout, prioritising the people that need it most in our community,” he said.
“The ACT Government has begun speaking to people who qualify for a vaccine under Phase 1A of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine national roll-out strategy in anticipation of the Pfizer vaccine arriving in Australia later this month.”
Mr Barr said Phase 1A covered COVID-19 testing staff; quarantine workers; Emergency Department staff; intensive care unit (ICU) and Critical Care staff; and staff working in designated COVID-19 wards at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce.
He said the Commonwealth Government would deliver a parallel program for injections of staff and residents in disability and aged residential care in the ACT.
“Healthcare and quarantine workers are playing a vital role in our response to COVID-19, protecting the health and safety of Canberrans throughout the pandemic,” Mr Barr said.
“By prioritising the vaccination to these Canberrans first, we can ensure that they can maintain our public health response without putting their own health at risk.”
The Chief Minister said it was expected that all Canberrans would have access to the vaccine by the end of the year.
