By Juliano Moreira
More regions in Queensland will receive AstraZeneca vaccines, amping up the region’s vaccination hubs.
Toowoomba Hospital and QEII Hospital on Brisbane’s southside will commence with AstraZeneca as of 10 March. Bundaberg Hospital and Logan Hospital became vaccination hubs yesterday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the immunisation process of a large number of frontline workers would be faster.
“The Pfizer vaccine rollout is continuing at our six original hubs throughout Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
“Queenslanders can be confident that when the rollout to the general population commences later this year, they’ll have access to a safe and effective vaccine.”
Queensland Health Department has informed that 10,092 recipients of the “Priority Group 1a” received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since the beginning of the rollout.
Gold Coast University Hospital has administrated 4119 doses so far, while Princess Alexandra Hospital has vaccinated 2276 patients. It has been 60 days since the last locally acquired case in the Queensland community.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the AstraZeneca vaccine is a game-changer for the state.
“We expect it will take us another four to five weeks to vaccinate the remaining Queenslanders in the Priority 1a cohort, then we can start to look to 1b,” Dr Young said.
The jabs are set to be delivered in phases: 37,000 frontline quarantine and healthcare workers will get it first, followed by police and emergency workers, vulnerable people with severe underlying conditions and those aged over 70.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath said the regional vaccination hubs would come online in the coming weeks with AstraZeneca vaccines to continue vaccinating the Phase 1a cohort.
“The AstraZeneca vaccine is easier to store, move and share, so we can bring more hubs online much faster,” Ms D’Ath said.
The Australian Government is responsible for delivering the vaccine to aged care residents and workers, and disability care residents and workers in the first priority group. Lies on the Government the responsibility for the purchase, selection and distribution of doses.
The Queensland Government is responsible for administering the vaccine at selected state-run clinics, such as public hospitals, nominated to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations.