ASTRAZENECA will remain the most accessible vaccine in the Mildura region over the coming months as the Federal Government ramps up supplies of Pfizer to local GPs.
In a statement, the Federal Health Department laid out a timeline for the Pfizer vaccine rollout in the Mildura region, with all eligible GPs to have access to the vaccine “by October”.
As of July 23, the total weekly AstraZeneca allocation for primary care sites in Mildura was 6800 doses per week, with the majority going to GPs, according to the department.
The total weekly Pfizer allocation for primary care sites in Mildura was about 800 doses per week.
“The government is planning for the next Pfizer expansion of general practices, with more practices to be transitioned Pfizer as soon as more vaccines become available,” a Health Department spokesperson said.
The news comes after Pfizer confirmed this month Australia’s supplies would be brought forward to one million doses per week from July 19.
On Sunday, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation changed its advice and recommended that people over 18 in Greater Sydney should go and get any vaccine available, including AstraZeneca.
In other regions AstraZeneca is recommended for people aged over 60 due to concerns over a very rare side effect causing blot clots.
People aged under 60 in Sunraysia can access the AstraZeneca vaccine after a conversation with their GP.
There are 15 general practices administering the AstraZeneca vaccine in the Mildura local government area and five primary care vaccination sites administering Pfizer.
The Pfizer vaccine is available through three general practices, Mallee District Aboriginal Services and the Old Army Drill Hall sub-hub run by Bendigo Health.
At a press conference on Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the Federal Government had secured 85 million extra doses of Pfizer to provide all Australians with booster vaccines over the next two years.
Mr Morrison said booster shots would be important to ensure “we can live with COVID-19 going forward”.
GP clinics offering Pfizer will be updated over coming weeks on the COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder online. To access a list of participating clinics, check eligibility through the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker.
