From today, Canberra’s Garran and airport Mass Vaccination Clinics will provide an additional 4,000 vaccine appointments per week, enabling the delivery of more than 14,000 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines per week across the two clinics.
Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith said all eligible Canberrans who have not yet booked their COVID-19 vaccine appointment are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
“In the next few days, we will be contacting Canberrans who already have an appointment to advise them that earlier spots may be available. Anyone who has a MyDHR account can log in at any time to change their existing appointment to another available timeslot,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
“With more eligible Canberrans coming forward for a vaccine now, we will be in a stronger position to open vaccine appointments to the 30 – 39 year-old group when more supply becomes available.”
Two thousand of these additional appointments will be reserved for healthcare, residential aged care and residential disability care workers, the Minister said.
“From the beginning of the rollout, we have been prioritising appointments for healthcare, residential aged care and disability care workers.”
“Allocating even more appointments specifically for these workers will encourage further uptake and ensure any worker who has not yet been vaccinated is given every opportunity to do so.
“ACT Health has been working very closely with employers, representative groups and the Capital Health Network throughout the vaccine rollout to ensure employees understand how to access a priority appointment and why it is so important they do so.”
The Minister said the ACT had seen a very strong uptake for COVID-19 vaccinations across the ACT, with more than 43% of the adult population having received their first dose. Almost 20% of Canberrans are fully vaccinated.
Since opening registrations to 30-39 year olds, more than 8500 people have signed up.
“Canberrans understand the benefits of a COVID-19 vaccination in protecting themselves, their family and the wider Canberra community.
“We will continue working to deliver a safe, effective and accessible vaccine program for our community,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
