Victorians aged over 70 will be able to show up to a vaccine centre and get jabbed without an appointment from Wednesday, as the state prepares to scale up its rollout.
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The AstraZeneca vaccine will be available to Victorians in groups 1a and 1b at the Royal Exhibition Building, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the former Ford factory in Geelong.
Anyone over the age of 70 can show up with or without a booking.
"Our medical experts' recommendations obviously impacted the national rollout, but here in Victoria, we've worked around the clock to find solutions to get vaccines in people's arms as quickly and safely as possible," Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said.
The Victorian government is also resuming the administration of AstraZeneca to eligible under-50s who wish to get it, despite blood clot warnings.
"By Wednesday, our health professionals will have everything they need to administer AstraZeneca to eligible Victorians of all ages, and they will continue to do so to the highest standards of safety and quality," Mr Foley said.
They can also continue to get Pfizer, where supply is available, through the existing system of workforce-based appointments.
Eligible Victorians can still choose to get the vaccine through GPs, who are supported by the Commonwealth. The state government says the move is to give people more choice.
Mr Foley said he expects most people over 70 would continue to get the vaccine locally with their GPs.
The announcement comes as national cabinet moves to twice-weekly gatherings, following the vaccine rollout being thrown into disarray over concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Health authorities have recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to the over the age of 50 after blood-clotting was linked to younger people.
Australian Associated Press
