Revealed: When Warwick residents could have access to Pfizer vaccine

The in-demand COVID vaccine could be available in Warwick within weeks, with the state’s active case number and controversy around the AstraZeneca vaccine continuing to grow.

GET THE JAB: The Pfizer vaccine could be made available to Warwick residents within several weeks. Picture: Rae Wilson / Daily Mercury

A show of initiative from a Warwick medical practice could bring the in-demand Pfizer vaccine to town within several weeks, as controversy around the AstraZeneca strain continues to grow.

Condamine Medical Centre co-owner Lynton Hudson confirmed this week the busy Warwick clinic had applied for access to the vaccine with the Federal Government.

Dr Hudson hoped the practice would be able to start rolling out the Pfizer variant within about a month, but said it was too early to give a definite timeline.

“(Pfizer) has been really difficult to get onto. I think even getting it in Toowoomba is becoming really difficult,” he said.

“They’re saying you can leave it out for a month now, and that will make a big difference to being able to roll it out and getting it away from speciality hubs and out into communities.

“One thing about general practices is they’re everywhere, and if it can get out to general practices then it can get out to the people.”

Dr Lynton Hudson confirmed the Condamine Medical Centre had applied to the Federal Government for access to the Pfizer vaccine. Picture: Warwick Daily News

Dr Hudson said the clinic was already administering at least 80 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine a day from Monday to Thursday.

He added that doctors and nurses were working extra hours and the centre had brought on several additional staff members to keep up with the demand.

“I think people are still a little bit hesitant with the history of clots, but I suspect that the number of cases around might make people think about coming in and getting it,” Dr Hudson said.

“The other thing is we know people and can talk to them in their own language about the risks and benefits, and hopefully reassure them if they need it.

“It’s been adapting to get it out with our normal workload … but people have been stepping up and that’s what’s making it work for us.”

Experts say doses of the Pfizer vaccine can now be left out of refridgeration for up to a month. Picture: Rae Wilson / Daily Mercury

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday AstraZeneca would be available to all ages through a no-fault indemnity scheme offered to GPs.

It comes as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Tuesday morning a snap three-day lockdown for 11 council areas across the Greater Brisbane area, along with Townsville and Magnetic Island.

All Queenslanders must observe additional restrictions including a 100-person cap on private gatherings, 200 at weddings and funerals, and the return of the one-person-per-2 sqm rule at all public venues.

More than 18,000 COVID vaccinations have been administered across the Darling Downs Health region to date, including 592 at Warwick Hospital and 275 at Stanthorpe Hospital.

A Darling Downs Health spokeswoman said this total did not include vaccines at medical clinics or aged care facilities.