Media release – Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care, 17 March 2021
General Practices join the Phase 1B COVID-19 vaccine rollout
More than 1,000 general practices will join the COVID-19 vaccination program from next week further strengthening the Commonwealth’s capacity, and ensuring an efficient and equitable distribution of vaccines across the country.
Services will come online from 22 March and progressively increase in number to more than 4,000 by the end of April – as part of Phase 1B of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine program. This staged scale up will align with the supply of the locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine, and as more vaccine becomes available more services will come online.
Over 100 Aboriginal Health Services and 130 Commonwealth operated GP-led Respiratory Clinics, who have been instrumental partners in the COVID-19 response to date will also be progressively added as additional vaccine providers. This rollout for Phase 1B complements the significant vaccination program underway to protect our most vulnerable citizens in Phase 1A, with approximately 200,000 vaccinated by the end of Tuesday.
Australians eligible for Phase 1B will be able to find a vaccination provider through the new national vaccination information and location service, at the Department of Health website. This will enable people to locate their nearest general practice providing General Practice Respiratory Clinic vaccinations and link through to their online booking system or phone number to make the appointment.
General practices will play a major role in ensuring all Australians who seek to be vaccinated have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Phase 1B includes vulnerable groups, such as older people and people with certain underlying medical conditions. No-one is better placed to support these people than our general practices.
Appointments on the service finder will increase as general practices establish their systems and vaccine supply. More appointments will become available as more clinics come on-board. People will still be able to book their vaccine appointments directly at a participating general practice – as they do now, for instance, to get a seasonal flu vaccine.
We are committed to making sure that every Australian that wants a vaccine will be able to be vaccinated. As the rollout moves into Phase two, additional general practices and selected community pharmacists will also participate in the program.
No-one will miss out, whether they live in a city or country town or a very remote area. Vaccines are the game changer in our fight against the COVID-19 virus and I urge everyone in Australia to come forward and get vaccinated when they are able to. It will protect themselves, their family, and their community.
There will be six million Australians in Phase 1B, and not all will be able to be vaccinated immediately. We recognise that every Australian will have the opportunity to be vaccinated over the coming months and we thank you for your patience.
FAQ Where do I go and how do I book in?
Go to Department of Health website. Using the Eligibility Checker, you can find out which phase of the rollout you are in. If you are eligible, you will be able to view vaccination clinics and book an appointment online or via phone. If you are not yet eligible, you will be able to register your interest so that you can be notified when you are able to book. If you prefer not to use the online option, you can call the National Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 1800 020 080.
Will I be able to choose where I can book?
You will be able to view and select clinic locations based on the postcode you enter.
What happens if there are no clinics or appointments in my area?
A list of Commonwealth vaccination clinics, participating General Practices, and state and territory vaccination clinics will be made available as they come online.
Do I have to use the Eligibility Checker in order to book?
The checker is a helpful tool to help you find out if you are currently eligible to book.The checker will guide you through to a simple way to find and book vaccine appointments, or help you register to be notified if you are part of a later phase. If you prefer to book appointments directly at a participating general practice or Commonwealth state vaccination clinic, you can contact them directly to do so.
Media release – Brian Mitchell MP, Federal Member For Lyons, 17 March 2021
Lyons Left Off The Vaccination Map
Just 5 GP clinics across the sprawling electorate of Lyons have been chosen to deliver the AstraZeneca Vaccine from 22 March 2021, compared to 10 and 11 in the Liberal-held electorates of Bass and Braddon.
Federal Lyons MP Brian Mitchell says the small number of clinics chosen in his electorate will see vast regions uncovered, requiring patients to travel long distances.
“My electorate has 12 municipalities in it and six have been left off the vaccination map completely,” Mr Mitchell said. (One municipality, Clarence, has a split border and its clinics are in Franklin).
“People living in the municipalities of the Derwent Valley, Southern Midlands, Glamorgan Spring Bay, Tasman, the Central Highlands and Kentish will be expected to travel long distances to be vaccinated, and that’s only if they can get a spot on the books.”
Mr Mitchell said many older people lived on the Tasman Peninsula and the East Coast. Their nearest clinics in Sorell and St Helens were at least an hour to 90 minutes away, with the chosen clinics already full to bursting with patients.
“I am writing to the Minister today to demand to know why a geographically large electorate like Lyons only warrants five clinics while a relatively small electorate like Bass, where most people live in Launceston, warrants 10.
“Labor supports vaccinations but the federal government’s management of the rollout has been incompetent and this rollout map shows it is failing to deliver.”
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Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Minister
RE: Tasmania’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout
I write today following the announcement of the initial 1,104 GP clinics across Australia chosen to deliver the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
I note that only five clinics have been chosen to deliver the vaccine across the entirety of my electorate of Lyons. Six municipalities in my electorate – Derwent Valley, Southern Midlands, Central Highlands, Tasman, Glamorgan Spring Bay and Kentish – have had no clinics chosen at all.
People living in Swansea for example will have to travel to either St Helens or Sorell, which are both a 90-minute drive. People living in Ouse will have to travel an hour to get to Bridgewater. People living in Oatlands will have to travel 45 minutes to Sorell or more than an hour to Longford. And all this is dependant on being able to get on the books in the first place.
Given the comparatively high number of older people living in my electorate, and the fact most of the chosen clinics already carry very heavy patient caseloads, can you please explain to me the decision-making process surrounding this rollout. I note also that the neighbouring electorates of Braddon and Bass have respectively had 11 and 10 clinics chosen to deliver the vaccine, while my much geographically larger electorate has had just five. I would appreciate you explaining why this is so.
I look forward to your response at your earliest convenience.
Yours sincerely
Brian Mitchell MP
17 March 2021
Joint media release – Bridget Archer MP, Federal Member for Bass, 17 March 2021
Northern Tasmanian General Practices join the Phase 1B COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Seven general practices across northern Tasmania will join the COVID-19 vaccination program from next week, further strengthening the Commonwealth’s capacity, and ensuring an efficient and equitable distribution of vaccines across the country.
Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer said services will come online from 22 March.
“We all know the invaluable work our local GP’s do for our community,” Mrs Archer said. “Now we will see them play a vital role the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.”
“Phase 1B of the rollout will see 1,000 GP’s across Australia delivering COVID-19 vaccines for our elderly and immunocompromised, progressively increasing in number to more than 4,000 by the end of April.”
“Australians eligible for Phase 1B will be able to find a vaccination provider through the new national vaccination information and location service, at the Department of Health website.”
“This will enable people to locate their nearest general practice providing General Practice Respiratory Clinic vaccinations and link through to their online booking system or phone number to make the appointment.”
“Vaccines are the game changer in our fight against the COVID-19 virus and I urge everyone in Australia to come forward and get vaccinated when they are able to. It will protect themselves, their family, and their community.”
GPs Administering Vaccines in Bass
- ESK Family Health Care Centre – Launceston
- Newstead Medical – Newstead
- Ochre Medical Centre – Scottsdale
- Summerdale Medical Practice – Launceston
- Northern Suburbs Medical Services – Mowbray
- Exeter Medical Centre – Exeter
- Legana Medical Centre – Legana
- Family Doctor Service – Kings Meadows
Appointments on the service finder will increase as general practices establish their systems and vaccine supply. More appointments will become available as more clinics come on-board.
People will still be able to book their vaccine appointments directly at a participating general practice – as they do now, for instance, to get a seasonal flu vaccine.
As the rollout moves into Phase two, additional general practices and selected community pharmacists will also participate in the program. No-one will miss out, whether they live in a city or country town or a very remote area.
There will be six million Australians in Phase 1B, and not all will be able to be vaccinated immediately. We recognise that every Australian will have the opportunity to be vaccinated over the coming months and we thank every Australian for their patience.
