Wed, 17 Mar 2021 - 11:14
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General Practices in Bradfield join the Phase 1B COVID-19 vaccine rollout

More than 1,000 General Practices, including those in Bradfield 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 Bradfield, Paul Fletcher MP said services will come online from 22
March.

“We all know the invaluable work our local GPs do for our community,” Mr Fletcher said.
“Now we will see them play a vital role in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.”
“Phase 1B of the rollout will see 1,000 GPs 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.”

In making the announcement, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt MP,
said the rollout would continue to grow in the coming weeks.

“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,” Minister Hunt said.

“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.”

“We are committed to making sure that every Australian that wants a vaccine will be able to
be vaccinated,” Minister Hunt said.

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.

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.

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.

FAQ

Where do I go and how do I book in?

Go to the 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.