Anyone aged 16 and older in Northern Territory now eligible for Covid-19 jab
One Australian city will become the first in the nation to freely offer the Covid-19 jab to all people aged 16 and older.
Anyone aged 16 and older in the Northern Territory will be eligible for the Covid-19 jab as the government expands its vaccination program.
From Tuesday, Territorians aged 16 and older living in Darwin, Palmerston and the rural area will be able to book to receive the coronavirus vaccine by booking online.
Previously, only those aged 16 and older living in regional and remote parts of the Northern Territory, including Alice Springs and Katherine, could get the jab.
It makes Darwin the nation’s first capital city where the Covid-19 vaccine is freely available to all people aged 16 and older.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said it meant the vaccine was now available to about 60,000 extra Territorians.
He said the government was aiming to commence a high-volume vaccination clinic in Darwin by the start of July to help cope with the anticipated surge in demand.
Mr Gunner said it was a practical and logical development that would make all Territorians safer.
“This is a sensible decision due to our indigeneity, mobility and vulnerability,” he told reporters on Monday.
“When you consider not just the make up of the Darwin population, but how people move in and out of Darwin, it makes sense to treat us as you would a remote vaccination centre.”
Mr Gunner urged patience when booking for a vaccine, as just because everyone was now eligible, it didn’t mean everyone would get the jab on Tuesday.
“With supply assurance from the federal government, we need to get this done over coming months,” he said.
He said the announcement made it “simpler” for Territorians to get vaccinated, as they now had a common message for everyone.
Mr Gunner said the Northern Territory had been leading the vaccine rollout and urged them to keep doing so.
“We are three times the national average, we must keep pushing that,” he said.
“Right now, 7.2 per cent of Territorians are fully vaccinated, compared to 2.8 per cent nationally.”
Bookings need to be made online at coronavirus.nt.gov.au.
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