The Hon. Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Health and Aged Care
The Hon. Michelle Landry MP
Member for Capricornia
Assistant Minister for Children and Families
Assistant Minister for Northern Australia
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Residents in Mackay and Mirani will be amongst the first in Australia to receive a COVID-19 vaccination from next week.
As part of the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program, people in priority groups who are most at risk and who need protection the most – will receive a vaccine first.
Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the staged approach to the rollout would ensure those who need the most protection get it first.
“Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Australian Government has worked diligently to ensure our nation has access to safe and effective vaccines,” Ms Landry said.
“From Monday, some of our most essential workers and vulnerable Australians in Mackay and Mirani will be vaccinated, with more of our community to follow in the coming weeks and months.”
“The initial priority groups will include aged care and disability care residents and workers, frontline healthcare workers, and quarantine and border workers.”
“The rollout will begin with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and following the approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on Tuesday, will include the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine from early March.”
Frontline healthcare workers and quarantine and border workers will receive the vaccine through Pfizer hubs run by states and territories. In addition, a Commonwealth led in-reach vaccination workforce will ensure residential aged care and disability care residents and staff receive their vaccines.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt reaffirmed that Australia’s vaccine strategy is strong and on schedule.
“Australia will begin rolling out the COVID-19 Vaccination program from next week,” Minister Hunt said.
“This week the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has arrived in the country and the TGA has approved the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine. These are two outstanding vaccines that will be available to people in Australia free of charge.”
“Our frontline border and quarantine workers, and people living and working in residential aged and disability care facilities will be the first to receive their vaccines,” Minister Hunt said.
“The vaccination program will save and protect lives. Both of our vaccines will prevent serious illness. That is our primary goal.”
Vaccines will be available across additional settings including GP clinic and community pharmacy. The staged rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is guided by Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine National Rollout Strategy.
The aim of the vaccination program is to save and protect lives. To keep people out of intensive care and off ventilators. Both vaccines approved for use in Australia do that very well.
Protecting people from serious illness is, and must, be the first priority
Find out more about the rollout and priority groups at: aus.gov.au
