Huge change to Victoria’s vaccine rollout with state to reduce Pfizer gap in October

Major changes to Victoria’s vaccine rollout will soon take effect, as the state pushes to protect its population against Covid-19.

Major changes to Victoria’s vaccine rollout will come into effect, as the state urgently pushes to vaccinate its population as cases soar.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced the gap between Pfizer intervals would be reduced from six weeks to three from next month, as infections peaked at 1438 new cases on Thursday.

Mr Andrews said it meant the state would reach its end of lockdown target early.

Anyone who has already had their first dose will be able to bring forward their second dose.

The changes will take effect on October 4.

“That will help us to bring forward or, at least, help us to deliver and hopefully bring forward our 70 per cent double dosed target,” Mr Andrews said.

“Anything we can do to bring that forward, even by a day or two helps.

“The sooner we can reach that target the sooner the lockdown ends and the reasons to leave home go and we can move into an entirely different phase.”

Reported yesterday: 1,438 new local cases and 0 cases acquired overseas.
- 34,323 vaccines administered
- 65,497 test results received
- Sadly, 5 people with COVID-19 have died

More later: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/odC4gg8pEf

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) September 29, 2021

Anyone who has already had their first dose will be able to bring forward their second dose.

Changes in the booking system will be made overnight on October 3, and people will be able to make a second dose booking from October 4.

Victoria reached its 80 per cent first dose vaccination target on Wednesday, as Mr Andrews urged more people to come forward to protect the community.

“People should have no hesitation whatsoever in going to their pharmacist and booking an appointment and going and getting the jab,” he said.

“The vaccine you can get today helps us get to the 70 per cent target, and gets us free and open and gets you and the people you love out of hospital.”

People line up to get their COVID vaccinations at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

The next threshold of the Roadmap will be reached when Victoria hits if 70 per cent double dose vaccination target.

Over the next week there are 10,479 first dose Pfizer appointments available and 8,856 first dose Astra Zeneca appointments available through the state-run system.

Victorians can also book a vaccine appointment through their GP or pharmacist.

Authorities revealed a third of all cases on Thursday were linked to Grand Final weekend gatherings. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Authorities revealed a whopping 500 cases on Thursday were linked to AFL Grand final and long weekend parties from last week.

The new cases have made up one third of the total cases reported on Thursday, with a sharp increase in Melbourne’s south-east and eastern suburbs.

Men were also vastly over-represented in the numbers which have been labelled “completely unavoidable”.

Covid testing head Jeroen Weimar said people had let their guard down.

“Grand final parties, other social gatherings, barbecues, backyard visits, all of this is generating sniffing and additional caseloads.

“We know that everyone’s fatigued and tired of this but today is a significant setback and how we manage the outbreak.”

Jeroen Weimar said Victorians were fatigued but needed to push on. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Mr Andrews said it was not sustainable for people to act like the state had reached its vaccination targets, when the virus was still raging through the largely unvaccinated community.

He said the state would find a way to “push through” to open, but the roadmap could be modified.

“It is not sustainable for people to act like we’ve hit 70 per ceny double dose when we’ve yet to hit 50% double dose,” he said.

“So going and visiting friends potentially puts everything at risk.”

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Originally published as Huge change to Victoria’s vaccine rollout with state to reduce Pfizer gap in October