Covid-19 Vaccination Rollout
The Australian government has secured COVID-19 vaccinations and have a staged roll out plan to get as many Australians vaccinated as possible, beginning with those most at risk in our communities.
Covid vaccination is voluntary, free and available to medicare-eligible Australians and most visa-holders.
It is important to note that Australia has rigorous regulatory procedures in place to ensure a safe and effective vaccine is used.
See the plan below for the COVID-19 Vaccine National Rollout Strategy and find out when you are eligible.
| Phase 1a – Late February | Phase 1b – Late February | Phase 2 Onwards – Start of May |
|---|---|---|
| Aged care and disability care staff | Other health care workers | Other critical and high risk workers |
| Number of doses up to 1.4m | Number of doses up to 14.8m | Number of doses up to 45.4m |
| Aged care and disability care residents | Younger adults with an underlying medical conditions, including those with a disability | Catch up any unvaccinated Australians from previous phases |
| Quarantine and border workers | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people > 55 | Balance of adult population |
| Frontline health care worker sub-groups for prioritisation | Elderly adults aged 80 years and over | Adults aged 60-69 years |
| Elderly adults aged 70 – 79 years | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 18 – 54 | |
| Critical and high risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing | <16 if recommended* *Pfizer vaccine only |
Phase 1a and 1b will be delivered through hospitals and specialized vaccination centers and are expected to start late February. Phase 2 onwards will be delivered via community pharmacies, GPs and specialized vaccination centers. We are working hard to get our pharmacies ready to deliver covid vaccinations, at this stage, phase 2 is on track to begin in May and we will keep you updated.
Please note, it is currently recommended to have two weeks gap between COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines including your Flu shot. And the Covid-19 Vaccine will be delivered in 2 doses with minimum 3 weeks apart.
We all have practiced physical distancing and increased hygiene since the beginning of the pandemic to help reduce spread. Vaccination is the next step to protect yourself and the community.
You may have other questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit https://www.health.gov.au/
Take care and Stay well.