The first stage of the Commonwealth’s coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination program will be ready to be rolled out at Western Health for high-risk, priority people Melbourne’s West as soon as a vaccine is available.

Member for Werribee Tim Pallas today announced people at greatest risk of COVID-19 in Wyndham will be provided with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine at Western Health which is one of nine regional and suburban Victorian public hospital vaccination hubs across the state.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive Commonwealth regulatory approval in Australia, undergoing a complete assessment and approval process and meeting high safety, efficacy and quality standards. Two doses are provided at least three weeks apart and the vaccine must be stored and transported at -70°C.

The Commonwealth advises the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to arrive and be rolled out in mid-tolate February.

Australia’s COVID-19 vaccines will be available in phases, as defined by the Commonwealth’s schedule, with the Commonwealth prioritising groups based on expert medical and public health advice.

People eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine as part of Phase 1a include:

• Quarantine and border workers and all staff working in the hotel quarantine program
• Frontline at-risk health care workers including hospital staff working in COVID and suspected COVID wards, emergency department and ICU staff, staff at GP respiratory clinics and COVID-19 testing facilities, ambulance staff and paramedics
• Aged care and disability care staff and residents.

Further roll-out of other vaccines, including the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, will depend on the Commonwealth’s regulatory approval, volume and timing of doses becoming available. Work is underway to identify sites across Victoria with the aim of ensuring all Victorians can easily get vaccinated. To see the latest information and advice about the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine in Victoria, please visit: coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine or health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Martin Foley

“The vaccine is safe, effective and free – and it will be provided first to Victorians who are most at risk of infection or serious illness, such as people in aged care and our frontline health staff.”

“We’ve chosen nine regional and suburban locations including in Melbourne’s western suburbs and we’re working closely with the Commonwealth to ensure we’re ready to deliver it as soon as it’s available.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“Getting Wyndham people who are most at risk of infection vaccinated as soon as possible will protect the health of those vaccinated, as well as their families and the whole community.”

“Our priority is to make sure that any vaccine which becomes available can be administered to people in Wyndham as quickly and safely as possible.”