South Australians start to get the phase 1B COVID-19 vaccine

GP clinics across the state have started giving the COVID-19 vaccine as part of phase 1B of the national rollout, in what’s been dubbed a milestone day for SA.

The first of six million Australians in the queue for the phase 1B rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination have started receiving their jabs today.

Among them were patients at Adelaide’s Chandlers Hill Surgery, which has 320 doses for the first week.

Evelyn Jones, 98, was Dr Daniel Byrne’s first patient at the clinic this morning and was thrilled to be among the first in the nation in the new phase.

Neville Pearson, 65, of Brighton was also among the first and said he had no qualms about getting it.

“Dr Byrne advised me I should get it as I have a compromised immune system and I was pleased to get it – I’d encourage everyone to get it when they are eligible and I have had no side effects, I’m just off for a walk down the beach now,” Mr Pearson said.

People aged 70 and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people aged over 55, health care workers, younger adults with specified health conditions and high risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing personnel are in the phase expected to take at least three months.

Evelyn Jones receives the Astrazeneca vaccine from Dr Daniel Byrne. Picture: Mike Burton

In South Australia 84 GP clinics are involved, including 70 in metropolitan Adelaide, which started vaccinating patients this morning. Most are booked out for coming weeks.

Adelaide Primary Health Network chief executive Deb Lee urged South Australians to check their eligibility and for their nearest participating GP clinic.

“This is a milestone day for clinics in South Australia as they begin the process of administering the phase 1B vaccine,” Ms Lee said.

“It’s really important that people understand whether they are eligible and, if so, that they don’t have to attend their regular GP to receive the vaccine.

“I would also urge people to be patient. We are working closely with SA Health analysing population data and focus areas to ensure that our most vulnerable community members are vaccinated first.”

For anyone confused about the rollout, click here for everything you need to know about phase 1B, including when you are eligible for a jab and where to get one.

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The rollout has been hampered by demand outstripping supply due to difficulties with access to supplies from overseas, however this is expected to ease within weeks now that CSL has approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured at its Seqirus facility in Melbourne.

Its first doses will be released this week and manufacturing is expected to ramp up to one million doses a week in coming weeks.

Chris Larkins of the Seqirus facility noted TGA approval and TGA batch release are two separate processes.

The TGA provisional approval of locally made AstraZeneca doses involves the overall assessment of information and data on local manufacturing process to ensure it meets strict quality standards.

Batch release is the quality assessment of each finished vaccine batch to ensure it meets quality standards – including potency and purity. This is an ongoing process as batches are finished and released in the coming months.

“We welcome the TGA’s provisional approval of the locally-made AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, manufactured by CSL,” Mr Larkins said.

“The team at CSL are working around the clock to deliver COVID-19 vaccines for Australians – we remain on track for the release of first doses this week, with the first batches undergoing final stages of checks and approvals.