NEW Norfolk has been named as the location for one of the State Government’s first five community clinics for the delivery of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination. Health minister Sarah Courtney said the state’s vaccine program was on track and ready to move to phase 1B.
“The success of the rollout so far has been a credit to our health staff who are doing a fantastic job, and I thank them for all they are doing for our State during one of the largest health logistical exercises in our country’s history,” Ms Courtney said.
Ms Courtney said the Federal Government had announced that some 40 Tasmanian GP clinics had registered to start delivering the vaccine across the state, with more information about those clinics, and how they will be taking bookings, was expected to be released this week.
“I’m also pleased to announce that the Tasmanian Government will stand up its own AstraZeneca vaccination clinics, starting Friday, March 19, at the Mersey Hospital in Latrobe, where health staff will be first in line to receive the vaccine,” Mr Courtney said.
“This will be followed on March 22 with the start of the government’s Community AstraZeneca Clinics in Launceston, New Norfolk, Kingston and Brighton. Details of the location of these state clinics are being finalised and … we expect to start taking bookings for these Community Clinics, for those Tasmanians in the 1B category, from Thursday, March 18,” she said.
“Our advice to Tasmanians continues to be, there is no need to do anything right now – public announcements will be made about how you will be able to book your appointment. And as we move through the rollout of the vaccination program, we will stand up additional community and government-run mobile clinics where they are needed to ensure we cover any gaps.
“The vaccine is safe, effective and free, but as we have said, it will not be a silver bullet, and I encourage Tasmanians to continue doing the right thing and keep up our COVID-safe behaviours,” Ms Courtney said.
Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccination program will include about 1800 Tasmanians. These are people aged 70 and over, health care workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 55 and over, adults with underlying medical conditions and critical and high-risk workers.
