The first stage of the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccination program is to be ready for roll-out in Victoria at nine suburban and regional health services across the State.
Minister for Health, Martin Foley said Victorians at greatest risk of COVID-19 would be provided with the vaccine at hubs at Western Health, Austin Health, Monash Health, Barwon Health, Goulburn Valley Health, Latrobe Health, Bendigo Health, Ballarat Health and Albury-Wodonga Health.
“The vaccine is safe, effective and free – and it will be provided first to those Victorians who are most at risk of infection or serious illness, such as people in aged care and our frontline health staff,” Mr Foley said.
“Our priority is to make sure that any vaccine which becomes available can be administered to Victorians as quickly and safely as possible,” he said
“Getting Victorians who are most at risk of infection vaccinated as soon as possible will protect the health of those vaccinated, as well as their families and the whole community.”
Mr Foley said Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive Commonwealth regulatory approval after undergoing a complete assessment and approval process and meeting high safety, efficacy and quality standards.
The Minister said COVID-19 vaccines would be available in phases, as defined by the Commonwealth’s schedule, with groups prioritised based on expert medical and public health advice.
He said the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine, expected to arrive and be rolled out in the middle of the month, would go to quarantine and border workers; all staff working in the hotel quarantine program; frontline at-risk health care workers including, hospital staff working in COVID-19 wards, emergency department and ICU staff, GP respiratory clinics and COVID-19 testing facilities staff, ambulance staff and paramedics; as well as aged care and disability care staff and residents.