ACT Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith announced today that government mass vaccination clinics will be availing extra 4000 appointments a week from Monday in anticipation of an increase in Pfizer supply
“From Monday 26 July, the Garran and airport mass vaccination clinics will provide an additional 4,000 vaccine appointments per week, enabling the weekly delivery of more than 14,000 Pfizer vaccines across the two clinics. An additional 2,500 a week at Garran and 1,500 at the airport,” said Stephen-Smith in a statement.
People will now have to be moved to a second waiting room for the 15 minute post-vaccination waiting period to create space in the jabbing rooms.
The minister also revealed that half of the additional 4000 appointments will be given to to healthcare and care workers.
More than 8,500 people registered for appointments this week when registration was opened to 30-39 years olds.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said she’s happy to see Canberrans continue to be “really enthusiastic” about getting vaccinated.
Stephen-Smith also revealed that more than 43% of the ACT’s adult population took one jab while around 20% were fully vaccinated, which she said was higher than national rates.
“About 116492 doses have been administered across ACT Government vaccination clinics. As of Tuesday 22 July, just under 10.5 million doses have been administered nationally,” said Stephen-Smith.
She told the media that more than 36 percent of Australians aged 16 and over have had their first dose, adding that 14.5 percent have had two already.
The Minister warned people to desist from the habit of turning up to vaccination clinics without a booking.
“There is no end of the day ruse to come and take a dose that someone didn’t turn up to take,” she said
Prime Minister Scott Morrison today apologised for failing to meet the targets since the vaccine roll-out began five months ago. The Morrison government also conceded that the program won’t be completed by October as promised earlier on.
Morrison told journalists in Canberra today that he was sorry for missing targets which he thought were reachable. The Prime Minister accepted responsibility.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the rollout was progressing well as they were bench-marking their plans on vaccines that were supplied already.
She also announced that AstraZeneca vaccination appointments for the aged population was available within a few days.
“I think our data shows that we are doing incredibly well in getting those jabs into arms,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
The ACT Minister for Health took Scott to task for giving out “mixed messages” to Australians aged 60 and above by promising them Pfizer jabs if they were prepared to wait.
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