Queensland plans to start vaccinating 100 frontline healthcare workers on the Gold Coast against coronavirus on Monday as it takes delivery of the jabs.
The state government says workers at the Gold Coast University Hospital will receive their first jab as long as the Commonwealth delivers the Pfizer vaccine this weekend.
Workers at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital will get their initial shot on Wednesday, followed by more healthcare workers in Cairns on Friday.
Up to 10,000 people per week will then start being vaccinated over the next month, but it’s unclear when Logan City health workers will get their turn, or whether they’ll have to be part of the Gold Coast or Brisbane hub to be administered the vaccine.
The premier urged people to wait until being invited to receive the jab so the government can adequately manage the roll out.
Dr Jeannette Young
Queensland Health will phase the delivery starting with 37,000 frontline quarantine and healthcare workers, then police and emergency workers, followed by vulnerable people with severe underlying conditions and those aged over 70.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young expects the general population to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October.
“No one will be missed here. Anyone 18 years of age or over will be able to be vaccinated, except for very few small cohorts … by the end of October. That is our plan,” she said.
Dr Young said pregnant and breast-feeding women would be advised against receiving the vaccine at this stage.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
Ms Palaszczuk, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath and Dr Young will all get the jab, but they will be among the second group to receive it.
“I don’t want to take a vaccine at the moment away from a frontline hotel quarantine worker and Dr Young feels very strongly about that,” the premier said.
Ms Palaszczuk also said talks were underway with the federal government on a purpose-built quarantine camp at Wellcamp near Toowoomba.
The Wagner Group wants to build a quarantine facility which would host up to 1000 travellers and 300 staff, but there is uncertainty about who will pay the workers.
