The Department of Health and state-run vaccination services are focusing on increasing access to COVID-19 vaccines. Several strategies are put in place to improve the vaccination rate.
Access to reserved first dose appointments at vaccination centres has been expanded.
The following people can access reserved Pfizer appointment regardless of their age:
- Meat and seafood processing worker and associated cold chain transportation
- People who are vulnerable and at high risk from COVID-19, including:
- those experiencing homelessness, sleeping rough, or in emergency accommodation
- those receiving drug and alcohol support services
- residents of residential mental health facilities
- those in sensitive accommodation including high rise/low rise public housing, supported residential services, community housing, rooming houses and others – see below for examples
- those with an underlying medical condition or significant disability.
To help people who are at higher risk of contracting or getting very sick from COVID-19 get vaccinated, appointments are being reserved at vaccination centres. To book a reserved appointment call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.
The following people are already able to access a reserved Pfizer appointment regardless of their age:
- All health care workers
- Public and private residential aged care and disability care workers and residents
- Hotel quarantine and border workers
- Household contacts of hotel quarantine and border workers
Group bookings and mobile in reach
Two new services will be available to support people who are currently eligible to get vaccinated.
To remove barriers to accessing vaccination centres an online form is being launched. The form will allow groups or organisations of eligible individuals to request assistance in in order to access COVID-19 vaccines.
Completed request forms will be sent to Local Public Health Units who will assess the request (including considering the priority of the group and the size of the group) and evaluate if a group booking at a vaccination or mobile in reach service is most appropriate.
The Local Public Health Unit work with the requesting group or organisation to arrange the group booking or mobile in reach service.
- COVID-19 vaccines delivered through this service will be age appropriate:
- Those aged under 60 years will receive Pfizer
- Those aged 60 years and over will receive AstraZeneca
- Some people are eligible to receive Pfizer regardless of their age.
Taxi vouchers trial
Funded taxi travel to vaccine appointments at vaccination centres will be available to anyone who receives a government benefit through Centrelink (except the Family Tax Benefit).
Providing funded taxi travel to and from vaccination appointments will help to remove travel costs as a barrier to vaccination. This is a trial service for both first and second dose appointments.
People can access this service by calling the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.
The taxi booking will be made at point of vaccination booking, and the individual will be provided with a return trip ID so they can book their paid return trip following their vaccination.
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