More than 17,000 people were vaccinated in Queensland last weekend as numerous vaccine hubs opened up, offering injections to people over the age of 40.
But there has been confusion over which vaccine people should receive — AstraZeneca or Pfizer.
Here's everything you need to know about Queensland's vaccine rollout.
Who is eligible now?
First things first — you need to be eligible to register and book a vaccine appointment online.
Currently, only people in the 1A and 1B priority groups are being offered vaccines, along with people over the age of 40.
The 1A category includes:
- Frontline healthcare workers
- Quarantine and border workers
- Aged care staff and residents
- Disability care staff and residents
People in the 1B priority group are also eligible. This group includes:
- Anyone aged 70 years and above
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 50 or older
- Younger adults with a specific underlying medical condition
- People living with a disability
Workers in high-risk environments are also eligible, including the defence force, police, fire, emergency services, meat processing and other select industries.
People who live with quarantine workers, border workers or healthcare workers are also eligible to receive a vaccine.
What you need to know about coronavirus:
Can you choose your vaccine?
The Queensland government is following the advice of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), encouraging people over the age of 50 to get the AstraZeneca vaccine and those under 50 to get Pfizer.
However, some people over 50 have reported being given a choice of vaccine when turning up for the injection.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath told ABC Radio Brisbane people would be able to choose once more vaccines became available.
She said Queensland was now receiving up to 50,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine per week.
"Ultimately, people will have a choice as more vaccines come online later in the year, so they've never been told that they'll be refused Pfizer," Ms D'Ath said.
She still urged people over 50 to opt for AstraZeneca while supplies of Pfizer were limited, to prioritise that option for people aged under 50, as recommended by the TGA.
"We'd prefer not to be using Pfizer for over 50s … at this stage," Ms D'Ath said.
AP: Frank Augstein/Pool
)Adults aged 50 and over have been asked to talk to their GPs about which vaccine would be best suited to their health needs.
A GP can then administer that vaccine, or they can attend a Commonwealth respiratory clinic, but are urged not to attend a COVID vaccine hub.
How should over-50s wanting Pfizer go about it?
The first step is discussing the situation with a GP.
Ms D'Ath said the Pfizer vaccine is being sent to the hubs, while the AstraZeneca vaccine is being sent to GPs.
"We distribute our AstraZeneca to the GPs and the pharmacies so they can help as many people who are 50 plus get their AstraZeneca and we can focus on Pfizer," she said.
Some people over 50 have successfully walked into a vaccine hub without a booking and received a Pfizer jab.
Ms D'Ath said while this was not recommended by the government, she did know of people waiting until the end of the day for any vaccines still available because other people didn't show up for their appointments.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTA2LTA4L3F1ZWVuc2xhbmQtY29yb25hdmlydXMtdmFjY2luYXRpb25zLWV4cGxhaW5lci1wZml6ZXItb3Zlci01MHMvMTAwMTkxNzA40gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMDE5MTcwOA?oc=5
2021-06-07 19:46:38Z
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