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ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr is up, talking about vaccine rollout planning in #Canberra.
Says "ACT Government is reaching out to those eligible for vaccination in the first phase to let them know when and how they will be able to access the vaccine".
Says "ACT Government is reaching out to those eligible for vaccination in the first phase to let them know when and how they will be able to access the vaccine".
First phials due to arrive end of Feb.
"Quarantine, border, frontline health workers will be contacted in coming weeks" to book appointments.
Other priority groups will follow, with vaccination of the rest of #Canberra beginning from mid-year, Barr says.
"Quarantine, border, frontline health workers will be contacted in coming weeks" to book appointments.
Other priority groups will follow, with vaccination of the rest of #Canberra beginning from mid-year, Barr says.
Vaccination will be free for all adults.
This process will be a major logistical challenge, one of the biggest challenges the nation has faced, Barr says.
"The majority of Canberrans won't be eligible to get vaccinated until the second half of this year at the earliest."
This process will be a major logistical challenge, one of the biggest challenges the nation has faced, Barr says.
"The majority of Canberrans won't be eligible to get vaccinated until the second half of this year at the earliest."
ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith: First phials expected to arrive in #Canberra week beginning 22 Feb.
"From today, officials have begun speaking with those who are eligible for a COVID19 vaccination under the first phase of the national vaccination program."
"From today, officials have begun speaking with those who are eligible for a COVID19 vaccination under the first phase of the national vaccination program."
Stephen-Smith outlines who's in this first group, people most likely to be exposed: COVID testing staff, quarantine workers (inc ACT public health, Border Force, airline, police, Defence, hotel, transport staff), pathology people working with COVID samples or potential samples, >
First ACT priority vaccination group also inc Emergency Dept staff at #Canberra & Calvary public hospitals AND ALSO at Yass & Queanbeyan District Hospitals in neighbouring NSW.
Also: Intensive & Critical Care unit staff across hospitals, relevant ACT ambos, staff on COVID wards.
Also: Intensive & Critical Care unit staff across hospitals, relevant ACT ambos, staff on COVID wards.
ACT Government will be responsible for vaccinating all these people in Phase 1A.
The Commonwealth Government will be responsible for vaccination of staff and residents of residential aged care, and residential disability facilities, ACT Health Minister says. #canberra
The Commonwealth Government will be responsible for vaccination of staff and residents of residential aged care, and residential disability facilities, ACT Health Minister says. #canberra
Stephen-Smith: ACT Gov starting to contact these people in coming days to book their vax appointment.
As many are health workers, to maintain service delivery, there will be a staged delivery in case someone has any reaction. Staff from a team won't all be vaccinated at once.
As many are health workers, to maintain service delivery, there will be a staged delivery in case someone has any reaction. Staff from a team won't all be vaccinated at once.
Health Minister Stephen-Smith: "We expect that these groups as a whole comprise about 4000 staff, and we're expecting that we'll do about 1000 vaccinations a week over at least the first couple of weeks." #canberra
Delivery: #Canberra Hospital pop-up COVID clinic at Garran will be the first place for people to receive the Pfizer vaccine, which will ONLY be available to people in this first group.
It will remain open as a testing site for the public during this time.
It will remain open as a testing site for the public during this time.
Minister assures that the Garran clinic "was specifically designed for a COVID19 environment, and constructed with the highest standards of infection prevention and control." Testing/vaccination halves are separate, distinct, with separate entrances.
Stephen-Smith: As more types of vaccines are rolled out, more vaccination sites will step up: inc GP clinics, respiratory clinics, Winnunga Nimmityjah, etc
How are people being contacted to book a vaccination appointment?
It's going to be a specifically-designed booking system. Phase 1A people will get an email in the first instance, telling them to call the booking line to make an appointment. #canberra
It's going to be a specifically-designed booking system. Phase 1A people will get an email in the first instance, telling them to call the booking line to make an appointment. #canberra
Noting the vax is free for all adults, Q re cost for kids.
Barr: There is still no clinical approval for kids rollout at this stage. That would be a sixth stage, after adults have been vaccinated. But assume it'd also be free for kids at such time.
Barr: There is still no clinical approval for kids rollout at this stage. That would be a sixth stage, after adults have been vaccinated. But assume it'd also be free for kids at such time.
Q on vaccine hesitancy:
Bernadette McDonald, Canberra Health Services: Not mandatory for staff, anyone who refuses will be followed up to find out why. Will highly recommend the vaccine to all staff. It's a work health safety issue. "Definitely doesn't impact on their employment"
Bernadette McDonald, Canberra Health Services: Not mandatory for staff, anyone who refuses will be followed up to find out why. Will highly recommend the vaccine to all staff. It's a work health safety issue. "Definitely doesn't impact on their employment"
Barr won't get a vax early, expects to get it with rest of the fifth (of five) group.
"I don't feel personally that there is a particular need to appease an antivaxxer community in the ACT... I would expect, as someone under 50 years of age, to not be in the first four cohorts."
"I don't feel personally that there is a particular need to appease an antivaxxer community in the ACT... I would expect, as someone under 50 years of age, to not be in the first four cohorts."
Barr emphasised he will be getting vaccinated, just not early.
"I will of course be getting vaccinated, I just wouldn't intend to be in Group 1, and my allotted allocation would be as according to my age and health risk profile."
"I will of course be getting vaccinated, I just wouldn't intend to be in Group 1, and my allotted allocation would be as according to my age and health risk profile."
Q on #Canberra responsibility for NSW residents:
McDonald: NSW residents who are healthcare workers who fit into Phase 1A are who we're talking about, not all NSW residents. Working closely as usual w Southern NSW Health District on coordinated approach on staff in that group.
McDonald: NSW residents who are healthcare workers who fit into Phase 1A are who we're talking about, not all NSW residents. Working closely as usual w Southern NSW Health District on coordinated approach on staff in that group.
On general NSW residents who typically come to #Canberra for healthcare, Health Minister Stephen-Smith says that will remain the case for COVID vaccination:
"They will come and get vaccinated in the ACT and that will be a matter of course as they get their healthcare normally."
"They will come and get vaccinated in the ACT and that will be a matter of course as they get their healthcare normally."
On costs for NSW residents:
Stephen-Smith: "There's ongoing discussions ... but we have standard funding arrangements with the NSW Government and we'll continue those conversations about how that funding works, but we don't expect to be out of pocket in relation to that"
Stephen-Smith: "There's ongoing discussions ... but we have standard funding arrangements with the NSW Government and we'll continue those conversations about how that funding works, but we don't expect to be out of pocket in relation to that"
Stephen-Smith on the Garran popup ED: Designed so half was for COVID-positive people, other half for COVID-suspected, and for two halves not to come into contact at all. Testing is only happening in one half. "Very confident" they can keep testing/vax groups separate.
CHO Coleman: You'll get information confirming you've been vaccinated. That will also be uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Register, "now becoming a whole of life, adult vaccination/immunisation register as well as your childhood one." Same as happens for kids now.
/thread ends
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith is my guest on @abccanberra after 5pm to talk about the first stage of COVID vaccinations here in #Canberra.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith is my guest on @abccanberra after 5pm to talk about the first stage of COVID vaccinations here in #Canberra.
