62,000 Tasmanians have had booster: ‘Thousands of appointments’ available

Nearly a quarter of eligible Tasmanians have received their booster vaccine, as the state’s operations commander predicts strong demand. HOW + WHERE TO BOOK >>

Nearly a quarter of eligible Tasmanians have received their booster vaccine, as a peak spokesman predicts strong state demand.

Tasmanian Covid-19 Vaccine Operations commander Dale Webster said about 23 per cent of eligible Tasmanians had received their booster jab as at January 4.

“More than 62,000 Tasmanians have already had a booster out of 270,000 who are eligible,” he said.

Mr Webster said community pharmacies had thousands of booster appointments ready to fill over the next two months.

Tasmanian Vaccination Emergency Operations Centre commander Dale Webster. Picture: Chris Kidd.

“Thousands of appointments are also available at state-run clinics across Tasmania in January, but we are predicting strong demand and will look to make more appointments available as the current clinics fill to ensure everyone who comes forward for a booster has an opportunity in the coming weeks.”

People are advised to get their third vaccine four months after their second jab.

But Mr Webster reminded Tasmanians not to panic if they couldn’t get an appointment immediately.

“I would encourage people to be patient if they cannot get a booster on the first day they become eligible and take the next available spot,” he said.

“People are not immediately ‘overdue’ on the first day they become eligible and still have some protection against Covid-19.”

Nationally, Covid-19 Task-force Commander Lieutenant General John Frewen told Sky News on Tuesday there were “more than enough” vaccines available for eligible Australians, but distributing the vials to those in need posed more of a challenge.

Lieutenant General John Frewen at a local Canberra Pharmacy. Picture: Gary Ramage, NCA NewsWire.

He said nationwide on the Monday public holiday, 44,000 people were immunised, and 36,000 of those people were receiving their booster shots.

“I just do ask people to have perhaps a little bit of patience if they can’t get an immediate booking but I’m sure if people try a few different avenues that they’ll be able to get their boosters pretty quickly,” he said.

“We have got the vaccines available for both the boosters and the paediatric doses for the kids.”

The uptake in boosters will coincide with first doses becoming available in Tasmania for five to 11-year-old children from Monday.

The roll out comes as the state government aims to arm kids against the virus in time for school to resume in February.

To book your booster …

• At a Pharmacy. Contact your preferred pharmacy or visit findapharmacy.com.au
• At a state-run clinic. Call 1800 671 738 or visit coronavirus.tas.gov.au

Are you planning to roll up your child’s sleeve next week? Comment below.