- Published:
- Wednesday 28 April 2021
All Victorian public sector residential aged care facilities have now been visited by Victoria’s hospital vaccination hub outreach teams as part of the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
With more than 4,300 residents having now received the jab, it marks the practical completion of first doses for residents across 179 public sector residential aged care facilities – most in regional Victoria. Second doses are also currently underway.
Staff at Victorian public sector aged care facilities have also had the opportunity to be vaccinated during outreach visits. They are also able to be vaccinated at hospital vaccination hubs, high-volume centres, or through a GP.
The Victorian Government is responsible for vaccinating residents and staff in public sector residential aged care facilities as part of Phase 1a of the Commonwealth’s program.
The Commonwealth is responsible for vaccinations at private aged care and disability care facilities. Eligible 1b aged care and disability care staff and residents are also able to book an appointment at state-run vaccination centres.
Victoria continues to make significant progress with other eligible Victorians in phase 1a of the vaccination program, with first doses functionally complete for Hotel Quarantine and border workers. The vast majority of phase 1a frontline health workers have also received their first dose of the vaccine.
Eligible Victorians can now receive the vaccine at one of six high-volume vaccination centres operating across Victoria. These include the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Royal Exhibition Building, the former Ford Factory in Geelong, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, Sunshine Hospital and Mercure Hotel in Ballarat.
From 3 May, eligible Victorians – including those aged 50 years and over – can get also vaccinated at these high-volume sites. They can book now by calling the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.
Victoria continues to work closely with the Commonwealth, health services and general practice on the national rollout. For more information about the Commonwealth’s vaccination program visit health.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Martin Foley
“Our health services have worked hard to visit more than 170 public sector aged care facilities, bringing the vaccine to them as part of our outreach services.”
“We’ve made significant progress vaccinating eligible Victorians – with quarantine and border workers functionally complete, every aged care site visited, and the nearly all frontline health workers having had the jab.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan
“Protecting our more vulnerable community members from coronavirus has always been, and will remain our priority, which is why we’ve moved quickly to visit every single Victorian public residential aged care facility.”
“We’re encouraging anyone aged 70 and over to get their vaccination at their GP or one of our six high-volume vaccination centres, two of which are in regional Victoria – with more to come.”