Just four GP clinics in Sutherland Shire have been tasked with delivering the COVID-19 vaccine to the general public in the initial stage of the rollout, which starts Monday.
Information supplied to the Leader by the Federal Department of Health showed just four GP clinics will deliver the vaccine in Sutherland Shire, which has a population of 230,000, according to Sutherland Shire Council.
They are Miranda Medical Centre, Miranda; Vitalis Family Medical Practice, Kirrawee; Kareela Village Medical Centre, Kareela; and Engadine Family Medical Practice, Engadine.
St George fared slightly better, with nine GP clinics in the region on the federal government's list of what it calls "Australia's COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap".
They are Sans Souci Medical Practice, Sans Souci; All Saints Medical Centre, Ramsgate Beach; Letitia Street Clinic, Oatley; Eastbrooke Medical Centre, Carlton; Wales Medical Centre, Hurstville; Ashby Medical Centre, Penshurst; Myhealth Medical Centre, Rockdale; Riverwood Medical, Riverwood; and Healthplus Medical Centre, Lugarno.
The region has a population of about 216,000.
According to the federal government, phase 1b of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout starts on Monday, March 22.
Just 1000 GP clinics have been chosen for the initial rollout.
The government said the number of available appointments will increase as the number of clinics grow from 1000 to more than 4000 over the next four weeks.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the staged scale-up of the vaccine rollout will align with the supply of the locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine, and as more vaccine becomes available more services will come online.
Mr Hunt said six million Australians will be vaccinated as part of phase 1b, but not all will be able to be vaccinated immediately.
"We recognise that every Australian will have the opportunity to be vaccinated over the coming months and we thank you for your patience," he said.
He said 130 Commonwealth-operated GP-led respiratory clinics will also be progressively added as additional vaccine providers.
"This rollout for phase 1b complements the significant vaccination program under way to protect our most vulnerable citizens in phase 1a, with approximately 200,000 vaccinated by the end of Tuesday," Mr Hunt said.
"Australians eligible for phase 1b will be able to find a vaccination provider through the new national vaccination information and location service, at the Department of Health website.
"This will enable people to locate their nearest general practice providing general practice respiratory clinic vaccinations.
"General practices will play a major role in ensuring all Australians who seek to be vaccinated have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.
"Appointments on the service finder will increase as general practices establish their systems and vaccine supply.
"More appointments will become available as more clinics come on board.
"As the rollout moves into phase two, additional general practices and selected community pharmacists will also participate in the program."
Those eligible for the vaccine under phase 1b are:
- Elderly adults aged 80 years and over
- Elderly adults aged 70-79 years
- Other healthcare workers not vaccinated as part of phase 1a
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults over 55
- Adults with a specified medical condition
- Adults with a disability who have a specified underlying medical condition
- Critical and high-risk workers, including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing.
The government said people will need to provide proof of medical conditions via the My Health Record, a health professional referral or a declaration form if declaring a specified medical condition.
To find out if you are eligible to be vaccinated, you can use the eligibility checker then find a local service to make an appointment.
Bookings are being made direct to each GP clinic.
The government recommends you "revisit the eligibility checker if an appointment is not currently available".
Details: To find out more about the vaccine rollout and check if you are eligible under phase 1b click here.
