On Sunday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said the extra Pfizer would be provided over a three-week period starting from Monday, June 14.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis week will allow them to work through some of their existing inventory, and we\u2019ll provide that extra 100,000 doses, which will support 50,000 individuals receiving vaccines over the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s recognition of the very strong work being done here in Victoria and the strong demand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to see other states and territories have that same degree of public support and confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going well around the country, but always we push for more.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the federal government would double doses for GPs in Victoria for each of the next two weeks from 115,000 to 230,000 AstraZeneca vaccines.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will help drive forward the vaccinations for the over 50s; important, critical steps going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Australian Medical Association\u2019s Victorian president Professor Roderick McRae welcomed the extra doses for GPs in particular.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re delighted it\u2019s following the medical model. GPs are trusted, they\u2019re good, they\u2019re efficient, they have been able to deliver vaccines safely for decades,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey know what they\u2019re doing – so please, routinely make an appointment.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, we want our GPs to be undertaking their vaccinations at maximum pace, as much as they possibly can, because tragically, this is a real virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s highly infectious, it\u2019s spread by aerosol, and it occasionally kills people.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot over-emphasise how important it is that people get vaccinated.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing this, if you have a symptom, please get tested. If you\u2019re in the presence of a person who has a symptom, call it to their attention and both of you get tested. \u201cIt\u2019s extremely important so that we can track this down.\u201d<\/p>\n
State Minister for Health Martin Foley said the federal government\u2019s new allocations to GPs were much needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have in fact been eating into our supplies,\u201d he said on Monday this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd having demonstrated that, I was pleased with the Commonwealth providing Victoria extra doses beyond our allocated standard numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Friday last week, the state government slightly eased the May 28 COVID-19 restrictions across regional Victoria, including no limitations on travel and face masks only required outside if people cannot socially distance, but metropolitan Melbourne was to remain in lockdown for at least another week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Victoria is getting more supply of COVID-19 vaccine to help it respond to the state\u2019s latest lockdown, with an extra 100,000 Pfizer doses and the doubling of AstraZeneca doses to GPs. On Sunday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said the extra Pfizer would be provided over a three-week period starting from Monday, June 14. \u201cThis week […]<\/p>\n