The Victorian Government has announced a Covid vaccination blitz for workers in residential disability settings and private aged care.
From Wednesday 2 June to Sunday 6 June, workers in private aged care facilities and the residential disability sector, which are managed by the Commonwealth, will be given priority access at walk-in vaccination hubs around Victoria between 9am and 4pm when they present evidence of their employment.
While the Commonwealth will continue to be responsible for in-reach in disability residential settings, Victoria will also work with providers to support access to state-run vaccination sites to increase the current low level of vaccinations.
While all public sector residential aged care centres have been visited by state-run outreach teams for first vaccine doses, private facilities have lower vaccination rates and are significantly more susceptible to ongoing outbreaks.
Staff are eligible for either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines depending on their age. Priority access will be ensured by active queue management. The following vaccination centres are participating in the five-day blitz:
Royal Exhibition Building
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)
Sandown Racecourse
Melbourne Showgrounds
Former Ford Factory – Geelong
Bendigo Community Clinic
Ballarat Mercure Hotel and Convention Centre
Shepparton Showgrounds – McIntosh Centre
Traralgon Racecourse
Wodonga Vaccination Hub
Aged care and disability workers are already eligible to be vaccinated at state hubs and can continue to attend at any time during opening hours.
However, this priority access five-day blitz will ensure they can be vaccinated quickly during peak periods and do not need to book in advance.
National Disability Insurance Scheme participants and other community members currently eligible for the vaccination program are also able to access their vaccinations at state-run vaccination sites.
All sites have a minimum standard of accessibility with nine sites across the State to be stood up as enhanced accessibility centres.
If able to come to a vaccination centre, the Government strongly encourage Victorians with a disability to make a booking.
Victoria has experienced record vaccination uptake over the past week. In the week ending Sunday 30 May, 95,676 doses were administered through state-run centres – an increase of 66 per cent over the previous week.
Since the Victorian Government expanded vaccine eligibility at state-run sites to those aged 40-49 on 28 May, more than 22,000 Victorians in that age group have received their first dose of the vaccine.
Vaccine capacity will increase in line with supply. Victorians are encouraged to continue booking their vaccine appointments through the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 or by visiting walk-up centres if they are over 50.
