An average of 11 vaccines a minute have been administered by Victoria’s State-run services since the COVID-19 vaccination program first started 12 months ago this week.
Marking the milestone on Tuesday (22 February), Minister for Health, Martin Foley said health service workers should be proud of their efforts, having delivered almost six million doses, more than any other State or Territory, across 166 vaccination hubs and 1,322 pop-ups and mobile sites.
“Professor Rhonda Stuart, the first person to diagnose a COVID-19 case in Australia, was the first Victorian to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on 22 February 2021,” Mr Foley said.
“Initially commissioned to deliver a third of the program, Victoria’s vaccine centres have since delivered 42 per cent of the 14,105,757 doses administered Statewide,” he said.
“Victoria is also proud of its support of general practitioners and community pharmacies, which have delivered around eight million doses.”
The Minister said more than 5.7 million first doses, 5.3 million second doses and 2.9 million third doses had been delivered Statewide, and 56 Local Government Areas had second-dose vaccination rates higher than 95 per cent among people aged 16 and over.
“A huge thanks goes out to our hard-working doctors, nurses, pharmacists and community health services who have worked tirelessly to administer almost 14 million COVID-19 vaccines,” Mr Foley said.
