Will there be enough vaccine for everyone?
The Government has invested over $3 billion to secure access to COVID-19 vaccines through advanced purchase agreements with AstraZeneca, Novavax and Pfizer.
Purchase of a diverse portfolio of vaccines will also allow the Australian Government to support our Pacific and South East Asian neighbours, as vaccine doses can be donated or on-sold (with no mark-up) to other countries or international organisations.
The Australian Government has purchased 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. However, any contract details and discussions with suppliers are commercial-in-confidence.
How will the vaccine be rolled out in regional, rural and remote Australia?
The Australian Government is committed to providing safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines free to everyone living in Australia - no matter where they live.
COVID-19 vaccine distribution locations and sites across Australia are currently being finalised with state and territory governments. The Government is also working with logistics experts to ensure cold chain and supply to all Australians, including rural and remote locations.
About 30-50 locations will be established as ongoing Hospital Hubs in both urban and rural Australia. In addition, there will be more than 1000 points of distribution nationwide with exact locations to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
These sites will include places such as GP Respiratory clinics, GPs, community pharmacies, state/territory vaccination clinics and Aboriginal Controlled Health Organisation clinics.
The Government’s call out to GPs and community pharmacies will strengthen the nation-wide rollout, and will allow those living in regional, rural and remote communities to access COVID- 19 vaccination if they choose.
The surge workforce announced last week will also partner with peak organisations and other providers to assist in administering the vaccine for harder-to-reach populations, such as rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Department of Health will be working closely with key stakeholders, such as the National Rural Health Alliance, to ensure communities in regional, rural and remote Australia are informed about the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
As distribution planning is finalised, timely updates will be communicated and made available on www.health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines.
Will foreign nationals who are temporarily in Australia be eligible to receive the vaccine?
Everyone living in Australia will be able to receive the vaccine for free. This includes people on temporary visas, refugees, asylum seekers, those in detention centres and those with cancelled visas.
How will misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines be addressed?
As COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out in Australia, all media will play a vital role in presenting accurate, trusted and evidence based information. The Department of Health understands the role of social media in perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines, and is working to make sure credible information and informed voices are present.
Throughout the pandemic, the Department has been in regular contact with social media platforms around the spread of misinformation. The Department's social media accounts are monitored regularly and false information will be reported.
As more information becomes available through expert medical advice and complete data sets from clinical trials, the Department will provide timely updates through its channels, including its own social media channels and those of partners and stakeholders.
The Department is working in collaboration with Commonwealth, state and territory governments to identify and address any issues that arise, and provide accurate and timely information to Australians.
Health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines will also have a dedicated page addressing vaccine misinformation and concerns about any potential scams.
Where can I find information in languages other than English?
The Department of Health offers translated resources on its website here.
Will we still need other COVID-19 prevention measures?
Even with a safe and effective vaccine available in Australia, this will only be one part of keeping the community safe and healthy. It will be important for Australians to continue to practise good hygiene and physical distancing during the rollout.
Everyone still needs to:
1. wash your hands as often as possible
2. keep your distance where you can
3. stay at home if you feel sick and get tested 4. download the COVIDSafe app