The opening of bookings for 18 to 39-year-olds has driven a surge in demand for AstraZeneca vaccines at the Norlane immunisation hub, according to health authorities.
Barwon South West Public Health Unit director Eugene Athan described the demand as “very strong” since the changes took effect on Sunday and expected the hub to be fully-booked on Monday.
“Bookings are always preferred to minimise wait times for everyone; however, AstraZeneca is available on a walk-in basis when there is capacity,” Professor Athan said.
“The process to give informed consent with one of our senior immunisers takes approximately 15 minutes.
“If someone younger than 60 is unsure whether they should get AstraZeneca, we recommend they speak to their GP about it.”
Pfizer is still only available for people aged 40 to 59, and those of other ages who are a:
• quarantine or border worker
• aged and disability care worker
• disability care resident
• healthcare worker
• household contact of quarantine and border workers
• critical and high risk worker
• traveller with a travel exemption
• aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• pregnant person
• person with an underlying medical condition.
• other eligible person.
“There are a limited number of first dose Pfizer appointments available and these are always in very high demand,” Professor Athan said.
“We would like to remind the Geelong community to remain vigilant and get tested at the first sign of COVID-19 symptoms, however mild.”
Next Monday at least 17 pharmacies will begin offering the AstraZeneca vaccine in the Corio and Corangamite electorates.
The pharmacies include:
• Bell Park Pharmacy 55 Hughes St Bell Park
• Community Care Chemist Belmont 157 High St Belmont
• Community Care Chemist Geelong West 1/184 Pakington Street, Geelong West
• Community Care Chemist Grovedale U5 122 Burdoo Dr Grovedale
• Community Care Chemist North Geelong 75 Separation Street North Geelong
• Direct Chemist Outlet Highton Shop 1 Barrabool Hills Plaza 4-46 Province Blvd Highton
• Direct Chemist Outlet Leopold Shop 1 Gateway Plaza 641 – 659 Bellarine Highway Cnr Melaluka Road Leopold
• Direct Chemist Outlet Warralily Shop 6 3-33 Central Blvd Armstrong Creek
• East Geelong Discount Drug Store 1 Ormond Rd East Geelong
• Peak Pharmacy Corio Central, Corio Central Shopping Centre Cnr Bacchus Marsh & Purnell Roads Corio
• Peak Pharmacy Leopold 20 Dorothy Street Leopold
• Peak Pharmacy Newtown 322 Pakington St Newtown
• Pharmacy 4 Less Waurn Ponds Shop 1d Waurn Ponds Sc 173-199 Pioneer Rd Waurn Ponds
• Pharmacy 4 Less Geelong West 95-103 Pakington Street Geelong West
• Priceline Pharmacy Waurn Ponds 135-177 Colac Rd, Grovedale
• Terrywhite Chemmart Armstrong Creek 500-540 Torquay Rd, Armstrong Creek
• Vines Road Guardian Pharmacy 99 Vines Rd Hamlyn Heights
Meanwhile, the Therapeutic Goods Administration on Monday announced the approval the Moderna vaccine.
Pharmacists will participate in the rollout of the Moderna vaccine, with 1 million doses expected to arrive in Australia in September.
To make a vaccination booking phone 1800 675 398 or book online at portal.cvms.vic.gov.au.
