All Victorians now able to get an mRNA vaccine at state-run clinics

Victorian authorities have announced a major change to the vaccine rollout as the state surges towards its reopening target.

All Victorians aged over 12 will be able to get an mRNA coronavirus vaccine at state-run clinics under changes to the Andrews government’s rollout.

After months of complaining about an inadequate supply of the Pfizer vaccine, the Victorian government announced there was enough doses for everyone to get an mRNA jab at one of the mass hubs.

Previously, only those aged younger than 60 years old were eligible.

Health Minister Martin Foley said the change was down to a boost in supply of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and increased surety on the number of doses from the commonwealth.

Health Minister Martin Foley announced the changes on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Lockdown is set to end in Victoria around October 26, when 70 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and older are fully vaccinated.

As of Sunday, 86.1 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 58.1 per cent were fully vaccinated.

“These are our processes of getting to 70 per cent double dose, 80 per cent double dose, and in fact, pushing well beyond,” Mr Foley said.

“You can now walk up to any of our major vaccination centres for your highly effective mRNA vaccine, be it Moderna or Pfizer.”

Melburnians queue to get vaccinated at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

All Victorians can now book or walk up without a booking to receive a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine at the state-run clinics, including:

• Sandown Racecourse
• Palm Plaza, Dandenong
• Bayside Centre, Frankston
• Barries Rd, Melton
• Ford Factory, Campbellfield
• Royal Exhibition Building
• Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
• Sunshine Hospital
• Plenty Ranges Art and Convention Centre
• Latrobe University, Bundoora
• Eastland Shopping Centre, Ringwood
• Shepparton Showgrounds
• Traralgon Racecourse
• Kiarivu Barracks, Mildura

Mr Foley said the sate government was about to launch a new vaccination campaign on all platforms – TV, radio, print and online – to encourage Victorians to keep rolling up their sleeves.

“It’s all about capturing the sentiment that Victorians want to get back to the things we love, the things that we aspire to again, after 20 months of such hard work,” he said.

“Every unvaccinated Victorian, particularly those who to fall susceptible to Cpovid-19, they are far more likely to get seriously unwell, far more likely to require hospitalisation, and tragically, through the fatalities we are seeing, far more likely to lose their life to Covid-19.”

[e-mail]

Originally published as All Victorians now able to get an mRNA vaccine at state-run clinics