<p><strong>Rollout of Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccination program began on Monday 22 March. Phase 1B includes Australians aged 70 and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 55 and over, younger Australians with underlying health conditions and frontline healthcare workers.</strong><br /><br />As part of Phase 1B, more than 1,000 general practices (including about 250 in Queensland) will be joining the COVID-19 vaccination program.</p>
<p>These clinics have initially been supplied with imported AstraZeneca vaccine. Clinics will progressively increase in number to more than 4,000 by the end of April, along with over 100 Aboriginal Health Services and 130 Commonwealth operated GP-led Respiratory Clinics. This staged scale up aligns with the supply of the locally-produced AstraZeneca vaccine.</p>
<p>As of Monday 22 March, 281,960 Australians have received a COVID-19 vaccine; 609 aged care and residential disability facilities have taken part in the vaccination program with and 58,358 Commonwealth delivered vaccines have been given to people in aged care and disability care.<br /></p>

<p>Visit the <a href="https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vaccine eligibility checker</a> to see when you can book a COVID-19 vaccination. <br /></p>

<p>Appointments through local general practices will increase as general practices establish their systems and vaccine supply. More appointments will become available as more clinics come on-board.</p>
<p>Please be patient as practices are experiencing a high volume of calls about the COVID-19 vaccination program. </p>
<p><strong>For more information contact your Primary Care Liaison Officer on 07 3630 7300 or email the PHN's COVID-19 vaccine team at <a href="mailto:covid19@brisbanenorthphn.org.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">covid19@brisbanenorthphn.org.au</a>.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Visit the <a href="http://www.health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australian Government Department of Health</a>.<br /></strong></p>




