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Vaccination

Vaccine Doses to Surge for General Practices Amidst COVID-19 Rollout

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The federal government is escalating its vaccination program, with Health Minister Greg Hunt announcing that thousands of general practices will receive triple the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses from next week. This move is aimed at increasing vaccine capacity for people over the age of 50, who are now being targeted for vaccination. The increased supply of AstraZeneca doses will boost the number of distributed doses from 330,000 to 450,000 next week and 600,000 the week after. Second doses, which had been held back in reserve, will start to be rolled out in the coming weeks.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of vaccine doses distributed to general practices will increase from 330,000 to 450,000 next week and 600,000 the week after, with the goal of vaccinating people over the age of 50.
  • The federal government has ordered 20 million additional doses of the Pfizer vaccine to meet the demand for vaccination under 50s.
  • CSL will increase its production from three to four batches a week from May 17, delivering over a million doses per week.
  • Almost 2.4 million doses of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines have been administered across the country so far, with 79,000 doses administered on Tuesday.
  • State and territory-run vaccination clinics have opened to vaccinate people over 50 with AstraZeneca, while vaccinating front-line workers under 50 with Pfizer.
  • Over 3000 general practices will be able to administer 150 doses per week from next week, while a further 1000 practices will receive twice the number of doses they currently receive.
  • The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president, Dr Karen Price, welcomes the move, stating that many practices were crying out for more doses.
  • Health Minister Greg Hunt has also announced that Australian medical supplies, including 1056 ventilators and 42 oxygen compressors, are being sent to India to assist with its COVID-19 outbreak.

Statistics:

  • 330,000 AstraZeneca doses will be distributed to general practices this week, increasing to 450,000 next week and 600,000 the week after.
  • Almost 2.4 million doses of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines have been administered across the country.
  • 79,000 doses were administered on Tuesday.
  • 1056 ventilators and 42 oxygen compressors are being shipped to India as part of the federal government's COVID-19 response.

Sources:

  • "Thousands of general practices will receive triple the amount of COVID-19 vaccine doses from next week." - The Age, "Vaccine doses to surge for general practices amidst COVID-19 rollout" by Rachel Clun and Liam Mannix.
  • "The increase in doses to doctors will provide more capacity to vaccinate people over the age of 50." - Health Minister Greg Hunt.
  • "CSL will increase its production from three to four batches a week from May 17, delivering more than a million doses each week." - The Age, "Vaccine doses to surge for general practices amidst COVID-19 rollout" by Rachel Clun and Liam Mannix.
  • "Almost 2.4 million doses of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines have been administered across the country, and 79,000 doses were administered on Tuesday." - The Age, "Vaccine doses to surge for general practices amidst COVID-19 rollout" by Rachel Clun and Liam Mannix.

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