Vaccination hubs to open to over 18s in Victoria

Victoria has introduced a major change to how over 18s can get vaccines as it pushes for younger people to take up jabs.

Victoria will open all its state vaccination hubs to over 18s as the state pushes for younger people to take up the jabs.

The government now has an ambitious target to administer one million doses in the next five weeks, Premier Daniel Andrews said on Friday.

Capacity will be scaled up across the state-run system, including the access to drive-through and mobile clinics.

Mr Andrews said thousands of younger Victorians had already jumped at the chance.

“We’ve been overwhelmed,” he said.

“There’s been 10,000 to 12,000 people from that relevant age group, younger Victorians, that have come forward to get their first dose.

“AstraZeneca will be available to everybody over 18 at all of our state hubs, all 50 of them.”

Young Victorians can now book an appointment to receive the AstraZeneca. Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The state plans to administer more than 200,000 doses each week between August and September.

Sites will also operate with extended hours with the new drive-through and mobile clinics to be based in Wyndham, Melbourne’s southeast and in the Hume and Whittlesea areas.

There are more than 200,000 vaccine appointments available, since the state expanded AstraZeneca jabs to people between 18 and 39.

Around 12,000 young Victorians have registered their interest to get vaccinated with AstraZeneca. Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

It comes amid fierce discussion surrounding vaccine hesitancy, and as NSW introduced a “no jab, no work” policy.

Figures released this week has shown that only 55 per cent of older Australians have been vaccinated against coronavirus, despite being eligible.

It is in stark contrast to thousands of younger Victorians who jumped at the chance to get vaccinated after the state expanded the program this week.

When asked how to encourage older Australians to take up the jab, Mr Andrews said it was important to continue the campaign.

“There are a million reasons to get vaccinated, for your job, someone evident's job, your health, someone else's health. So you can go to the MCG and watch your team win, so you can see your grandkids, travel around the country, the world,” he said.

“Most people want to do the right thing not just by their family but by every single family.”

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