Pfizer Covid vaccine guide: Who is eligible and where to get it

Australians aged 40 to 59, as well as younger people in priority workforces like healthcare, police and defence are all eligible for the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine now. Here’s how to get it.

The Pfizer vaccine is now available to all Australians aged 40 to 59 as well as any younger people in priority workforces like health care, police, defence, meat processing and aged care.

People eligible for the jab have so far only had the option of booking an appointment at a state-run hospital or vaccination clinics due to the extremely cold storage required for Pfizer, but from July GPs will increasingly be transitioned to also be able to give it to patients.

Starting this week 500 GP clinics around Australia will be giving out Pfizer, increasing to 1,300 by August, which is in addition to the state-run clinics.

Registered Nurse Christina O'Donnell holds a vial of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: Ian Hitchcock

Australia’s supply of Pfizer vaccine has been limited in the first half of the year, with only about 600,000 doses expected to arrive in the country per week on average in July.

This is expected to increase to about 1.5m to 2.5m a week from October through to December.

WHO CAN GET THE PFIZER COVID VACCINE?

– All Australians, including permanent residents aged 40 to 59

– All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 16 to 59

– Australians aged 16 to 39 with an underlying medical condition, including a disability

– Australians aged under 40 who work in a priority occupation including aged care, disability care, health care, pharmacy and other frontline services including defence, police, fire, emergency services, as well as meat processing.

WHEN WILL UNDER 40s BE ELIGIBLE FOR PFIZER?

– The federal government has not set an exact date for the opening up of the Pfizer rollout to all Australians under 40, however it is expected everyone will be eligible from October when more supply is available.

The Pfizer vaccine is the recommended option for Australians aged 16 to 59. Picture: Christof STACHE / AFP

HOW LONGS IS THE WAIT BETWEEN PFIZER DOSES?

– The recommended wait time between the first and second Pfizer dose is three weeks.

WHERE CAN I GET PFIZER?

– The best way to book a Pfizer vaccination is to visit the government’s eligibility checker here.

– After completing the short questionnaire about your age, occupation and other basic details you will be asked to enter your postcode and directed to the nearest clinics administering the Pfizer vaccine.

– From there you can either book online or call the clinic to make an appointment for your first dose.