You seem to be using an older version of Internet Explorer. This site requires Internet Explorer 8 or higher. Update your browser here today to fully enjoy all the marvels of this site.
Canberra's healthcare workers will be among the first in the territory to receive a coronavirus vaccine as part of the ACT's five-stage plan to roll out the jabs. Territory Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith on Monday said health services were well-placed to start administering the Pfizer vaccine from next week. That plan was confirmed shortly afterwards with federal Health Minister Greg Hunt's announcement the vaccine had landed in Australia about noon on Monday. Ms Stephen-Smith said the vaccine rollout would happen in five stages; the first, called "1a" and starting from next week, would include frontline workers and residential aged care and disability care residents, with vaccination occurring at the Garran Surge Centre at Garran Oval. Frontline workers, in that sense, would account for high-risk healthcare workers like those working at COVID-19 testing clinics and in emergency departments, those handling pathology samples, staff in COVID wards, staff in respiratory clinics, workers at residential aged care and disability care facilities and relevant paramedics. It would also account for quarantine and border workers - like airline, Border Force and Defence staff - who had contact with people as they moved through Australia's borders. Hospital staff were briefed on Monday morning about the vaccine rollout, and told to expect an email in the coming weeks which would lead them to a vaccine booking site. Some other frontline workers, like Border Force workers, were yet to be notified about their ability to get the vaccine, but would soon be informed and would have to follow the same booking process. Ms Stephen-Smith said the Garran Surge Centre would continue to operate as a COVID-19 testing facility as well as the territory's vaccine hub. "[The surge centre] operates as two separate facilities and with separate entrances for testing and for vaccinations," she said. "This means that it can continue to operate safely as a testing site and for a vaccination service." She said about 4000 people were expected to get the jab in the first stage. The second stage of the rollout, dubbed "1b", was expected to start in March this year. Officials said it would include vaccinations for the following people: those over 70, other healthcare workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55, adults with an underlying medical condition, and critical workers including emergency services workers. The third staged, called "2a", would include those aged between 50 and 69, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged between 18 and 54, and other critical and high-risk workers. Canberra's remaining adult population - so, people under 50 who weren't Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander - could be vaccinated from July this year, while children could get a coronavirus jab from September. READ MORE: ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said on Monday all adults in the territory could get vaccinated for free. "The majority of Canberrans won't be eligible [for the vaccine] until the second half of this year at the earliest," he said. Ms Stephen-Smith said the ACT would receive about 1000 doses of Pfizer for the first couple of weeks of the vaccine rollout. How much the territory received after that would depend on supply and demand. The territory's officials refused to elaborate on where the doses, which have to be kept at ultra-low temperatures, would be stored. However, security at Canberra Hospital is set to be beefed up ahead of the rollout. Mr Barr on Monday said the rollout was "one of the biggest" logistical challenges the nation had faced in living memory, with many operational and communication challenges. He said he expected to get the jab later in the year as part of the fifth cohort. "I don't feel personally there's a particular need to appease an anti-vaxxer community in the ACT for politicians here to get vaccinated, but that's an individual decision," he said. For faster access to the latest Canberra news, download The Canberra Times app for iOS and Android.
Canberra's healthcare workers will be among the first in the territory to receive a coronavirus vaccine as part of the ACT's five-stage plan to roll out the jabs.
Territory Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith on Monday said health services were well-placed to start administering the Pfizer vaccine from next week.
That plan was confirmed shortly afterwards with federal Health Minister Greg Hunt's announcement the vaccine had landed in Australia about noon on Monday.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the vaccine rollout would happen in five stages; the first, called "1a" and starting from next week, would include frontline workers and residential aged care and disability care residents, with vaccination occurring at the Garran Surge Centre at Garran Oval.
Frontline workers, in that sense, would account for high-risk healthcare workers like those working at COVID-19 testing clinics and in emergency departments, those handling pathology samples, staff in COVID wards, staff in respiratory clinics, workers at residential aged care and disability care facilities and relevant paramedics.
It would also account for quarantine and border workers - like airline, Border Force and Defence staff - who had contact with people as they moved through Australia's borders.
Hospital staff were briefed on Monday morning about the vaccine rollout, and told to expect an email in the coming weeks which would lead them to a vaccine booking site.
Some other frontline workers, like Border Force workers, were yet to be notified about their ability to get the vaccine, but would soon be informed and would have to follow the same booking process.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the Garran Surge Centre would continue to operate as a COVID-19 testing facility as well as the territory's vaccine hub.
"[The surge centre] operates as two separate facilities and with separate entrances for testing and for vaccinations," she said.
"This means that it can continue to operate safely as a testing site and for a vaccination service."
She said about 4000 people were expected to get the jab in the first stage.
The second stage of the rollout, dubbed "1b", was expected to start in March this year.
Officials said it would include vaccinations for the following people: those over 70, other healthcare workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55, adults with an underlying medical condition, and critical workers including emergency services workers.
The third staged, called "2a", would include those aged between 50 and 69, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged between 18 and 54, and other critical and high-risk workers.
Canberra's remaining adult population - so, people under 50 who weren't Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander - could be vaccinated from July this year, while children could get a coronavirus jab from September.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said on Monday all adults in the territory could get vaccinated for free.
"The majority of Canberrans won't be eligible [for the vaccine] until the second half of this year at the earliest," he said.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the ACT would receive about 1000 doses of Pfizer for the first couple of weeks of the vaccine rollout. How much the territory received after that would depend on supply and demand.
The territory's officials refused to elaborate on where the doses, which have to be kept at ultra-low temperatures, would be stored. However, security at Canberra Hospital is set to be beefed up ahead of the rollout.
Mr Barr on Monday said the rollout was "one of the biggest" logistical challenges the nation had faced in living memory, with many operational and communication challenges.
He said he expected to get the jab later in the year as part of the fifth cohort.
"I don't feel personally there's a particular need to appease an anti-vaxxer community in the ACT for politicians here to get vaccinated, but that's an individual decision," he said.
Add Category
