Victoria gets 300,000 Moderna COVID-19 vaccines

HUNDREDS of thousands of Moderna vaccine appointments will soon be available to Victorians, as the state speeds up its vaccination efforts.

Today (Monday, September 20), Victoria recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases in the current outbreak with 567 new locally acquired cases and one death – a Moreland woman in her 70s.

More than 300,000 Moderna vaccines will be delivered to pharmacies across Victoria this month, with more expected in October and November.

“The Moderna vaccine is available from later this week and there’s a lot of it,” Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.

“It is incredibly effective, just as the other two are, in protecting you against becoming gravely unwell.”

Victorian Pharmacy Guild president Anthony Tassone said 440 pharmacies in the state will receive the Moderna vaccine this week, and another 281 next week.

“Some pharmacies may offer walk-in services, but I always recommend you try to make an appointment wherever possible,” he said.

Pharmacies will now be administering both AstraZeneca and Moderna.

Mr Tassone urged Victorians to “please be patient” with their local pharmacies, if they do not immediately offer bookings for Moderna.

“Don’t wait for a particular vaccine – get what you can get because they’re all safe and effective,” he said.

He warned Moderna will not be available to people aged over 60 yet, and said the time recommended between doses is four weeks.

In the 24 hours to today 50,915 tests were processed and 39,939 Victorians received a vaccine dose at state-run hubs.

The state’s roadmap out of lockdown was released yesterday (Sunday, September 19), detailing small changes to restrictions when 80 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 have received a single vaccine dose.

Melbourne’s lockdown will remain in place until 70 per cent of Victorians are double-vaccinated, which is forecast for October 26.

At that stage, the city’s curfew will be lifted, the travel limit will increase to 25km and hospitality can open outdoors for 50 fully vaccinated people.

Once the 80 per cent double-dose target is met, forecast for November 5, the travel limit is scrapped, retail, gyms and beauty services will reopen for the fully vaccinated and hospitality resumes indoors.

Also under the plan, interstate and international travel can resume once 80 per cent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated.

The opposition and business groups have described it as “a roadmap with roadblocks”, saying the plan is too conservative when compared with NSW’s plan.

The roadmap is based on Burnet Institute modelling, which shows that Victoria’s COVID-19 cases will peak at between 1,400 and 2,900 per day between October 19 and 31.