How to fast track and book a Covid vaccine appointment
There are more than 6300 places delivering Covid-19 vaccines and these are the best ways to get an appointment right now.
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Covid vaccines are free and they are being delivered by GP’s, some chemists in rural areas, at state-run vaccination clinics and community health clinics.
To get an appointment you can use booking apps like HotDoc or HealthEngine, government websites or phone up.
HOW MANY VACCINATION SITES ARE THERE?
Around the country there are more than 6300 places to get the jab. This includes more than 5000 GP clinics and respiratory clinics, 830 state and territory facilities and nearly 300 pharmacies.
WHAT VACCINATIONS CAN I GET WHERE?
Pfizer shots are available at only 1550 GP clinics but you can get an AstraZeneca vaccine at more than 5120 GP clinics. At this stage chemists only provide AstraZeneca shots. State vaccination hubs provide Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses.
WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO PROVIDE TO GET A VACCINE?
Before you can get the jab you’ll need to fill in some online or paper forms and provide details about your age and Medicare number.
If you are a frontline worker you will need proof of your employment such as a pay slip.
If you are booking online you will then need to set up an online account through the booking platform before you can make a vaccine appointment.
WHERE CAN I GET THE VACCINE?
Walk in clinics
In some states like Victoria and Queensland there are walk in clinics where you can queue up to get an AstraZeneca shot. This can take hours, depending on demand. You can also book an appointment at the venues listed at Vic Gov (if you are over 60) and QLD Gov
State-based Covid vaccination hubs
NSW is running a mass vaccination hub at Sydney Olympic Park open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 5pm Sunday. It also has other state based vaccination hubs. You must make an appointment through the federal Department of Health.
There are vaccination hubs in Melbourne suburbs including Ascot Vale, Broadmeadows, Carlton, Coburg, Cranbourne, Deer Park, Epping, Frankston, Heidelberg Heights, Ringwood, Sandringham, South Morang, South Wharf, Springvale, St Albans and West Melbourne.
Regional Victorian hubs are based in towns including Ballarat, Bendigo, Capel Sound, Sale, Shepparton, Traralgon East, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Wonthaggi.
You can book an appointment for AstraZeneca, or for Pfizer if you are eligible, as well as find the full list of vaccination centres and see which accept over-60s walk-ins, at VicGov.
South Australia has four vaccine hubs. An appointment can be made through SA Health.
Tasmania is running 11 vaccine clinics but the opening times and dates vary. You can find them at Tasmanian Government.
The Northern Territory is running nine vaccination clinics at Royal Darwin Hospital, Tracy Village, Danila Dilba Health Services, Palmerston, Commonwealth Vaccination Centre (Palmerston), Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs Clinic and Gove. To book, go to NT Government.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BOOKING SERVICE
You can book a vaccine appointment through the Australian Government’s Department of Health website using their eligibility checker.
The platform will ask you a series of questions about your age and occupation and health status to determine if you are eligible for a shot and will then allow you to book an appointment at a GP clinic or respiratory near you.
Go to the federal Department of Health.
GP BOOKING APPS
You can also use medical appointment booking apps to get a spot with a general practitioner or a federal government respiratory clinic. HotDoc or HealthEngine are both offering this service.
BOOK WITH YOUR REGULAR GP
You can check with your regular GP whether they are providing the vaccinations and make an appointment with them directly. Not all GPs are approved to deliver the shots.
PHONE HELPLINE
If you need help making a vaccine appointment you can call 1800 020 080. The helpline can troubleshoot but is unable to book appointments for you.
TOP TIPS
Making an appointment at a GP respiratory clinic is your best chance of getting an earlier vaccine appointment.
There are 130 of these GP clinics around the country and these doctors receive more than 1000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine per week, compared to regular GP clinics which get deliveries of 150-600 doses a week.
The small number of GP clinics delivering Pfizer jabs get 300 doses a week. GP respiratory clinics get 500 Pfizer doses a week.
Many people are already signed up to use medical booking apps like HotDocor HealthEngine and their systems are streamlined, and they are easy to use.
HOW LONG WILL YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN APPOINTMENT?
Supply of the Pfizer vaccine is limited until September and October and at most places you have to wait until September or longer to get an appointment for this vaccine.
If you are younger and not in a priority group you may have to wait until November for Pfizer.
There is plenty of supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine and you will get an appointment three times faster or possibly within a few days or a week if you opt for this vaccine.
WHAT VACCINE CAN YOU GET FOR YOUR AGE GROUP?
■ For the 50-59 age group, the risk is 2.7 clots per 100,000 with, 0.1 or 100 deaths prevented and 1.4 ICU (1400) admissions and 4.6 (4600) hospitalisations prevented.
■Vaccine recommendation: Pfizer, and Moderna when available from September
■ The risk of TTS for those aged between 40 and 49 its 5 clots per 100,000 with 0.8 ICU admissions prevented.
■Vaccine recommendation:Pfizer, and Moderna when available from September
■ Over 60, the benefits of AstraZeneca start outweighing the risks. With 1.4 clots per 100,000, 0.4, or 400 deaths are prevented and 2.1 or 2000 ICU admissions prevented.
■Vaccine recommendation: AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Moderna when available from September
■ In the 70-79 age bracket, the risk is 1.8 clots per 100,000 and 1.5 or 1500 deaths prevented and 3.4, or 3400 ICU admissions and 8.8 (8,800) hospitalisations prevented.
■Vaccine recommendation:AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Moderna when available from September
■ For the over 80s, 1.9 clots per 100,000 weight up against 6.2 deaths or 6200 deaths per 100,000 prevented and 1.6 ICU and 11.5 hospitalisations prevented.
■Vaccine recommendation:AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Moderna when available from September
■ The risk of TTS for those aged between 30 and 39 is 1.6 per 100,000 again, with zero deaths prevented.
■Vaccine recommendation: Pfizer, and Moderna when available from September. AstraZeneca is also available, but patients need to consult their doctor.
■ The risk of TTS for those aged between 18 and 29 is 1.9 for every 100,000. That’s 1900 potential cases of clots but the deaths prevented by vaccination in this group is zero per 100,000.
■Vaccine recommendation:Pfizer, and Moderna when available from September. AstraZeneca is also available, but patients need to consult their doctor.
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