Victorians under 50 will be able to get Pfizer jabs from next week

Hundreds of thousands more Victorians will be able to get Pfizer jabs from next week, as Victoria records another day of no new cases. Here’s who will be eligible.

Hundreds of thousands more Victorians under 50 will be able to get Pfizer jabs from next week as the state steps in to help vaccinate disability workers, taxi drivers and other groups waiting their turn.

It comes as Victoria recorded no new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours.

There has been one new case identified in an overseas traveller who is currently in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of active cases to 18.

Almost 22,000 tests were received on Thursday, while 7746 vaccines were administered.

The 138 identified primary close contacts of a Wollert man who contracted coronavirus from a South Australian quarantine hotel have been tested and are isolating, with 104 of those returning a negative test.

“This is so far so good. Our contact tracers are doing a sterling job,” acting Premier James Merlino said.

“It’s taken a lot of work.”

Mr Merlino said he understood the man at the centre of the scare was not unwell.

A further six people, who quarantined on the same floor of the South Australian hotel, are isolating at home.

Mr Merlino urged the community to continue using QR code’s to check in.

“It’s a very simple thing. The challenge of compliance and complacency is real. It’s human nature. We’ve been tackling this pandemic for 16 months,” he said.

Meanwhile, the arrival of more Pfizer vaccines from the commonwealth has allowed the state government to ramp up the rollout to even more people, including those eligible but still waiting for appointments.

From Monday, more priority groups of under-50s can get Pfizer doses at certain state centres to speed up the program. These include emergency workers, adults with underlying health conditions and disability service workers and carers.

Public transport workers, including taxi and rideshare drivers, will be included from May 24. Giving the states more groups to vaccinate has been discussed at national cabinet and Victoria has the capacity to provide more daily doses.

Dr Sumi Bhaskaran her second Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Disability Minister Luke Donnellan said it was vital to get the disability workforce vaccinated quickly. “Which is why we’re opening up our high-volume vaccination centres to support the commonwealth in doing this. Our priority is always protecting our most vulnerable,” he said.

“While the commonwealth will undertake in-reach vaccinations in homes, we will continue to work with them to look at ways of providing more options for Victorians with disability.

“After months of waiting for a vaccine, it is absolutely critical we get the rollout for Victorians living in disability care homes back on track.”

A new walk-in vaccination hub will open at Melbourne Showgrounds on May 17.

Health Minister Martin Foley urged eligible workers under 50 to call ahead and make bookings for their Pfizer vaccines.

EXPOSURE FEARS AFTER VIRUS ESCAPES QUARANTINE

Six more Victorians are isolating at home after they were potentially exposed to the virus when quarantining at the Playford Hotel in Adelaide during the same time a Wollert man caught COVID-19.

The Department of Health revealed the six people recently left Level 3 of the Playford Hotel in South Australia during the potential transmission period.

All six have been contacted and are now undertaking 14 days quarantine since their departure from the Adelaide hotel. They are all undergoing urgent testing today.

Almost 90 of 118 primary close contacts — across four exposure sites — returned negative tests. Acting Premier James Merlino said the signs were “pretty positive”.

People in Epping and Altona North scrambled to get tested after the Wollert man tested positive after returning from India.

A COVID-positive man dined at the Curry Vault Indian Restaurant and Bar. Picture: David Caird

VENUES FACE QR CODE CRACKDOWN

SHOPS and restaurants flouting QR code check-ins will face a new $1652 on-the-spot fine as the state government scrambles to drive a local scare to ground.

It comes as the government put businesses on notice, unveiling new powers for authorised officers to issue immediate penalties to rule breakers.

The new measures come after 37 per cent of businesses were found to be non-compliant in an April business blitz.

Repeated breaches face a further $9913 fine, and businesses could be prosecuted for continued blatant or wilful noncompliance.

Acting Police Minister Danny Pearson said it sent a “clear message” to businesses that breaches would not be tolerated.

“As we’ve seen this week, it’s essential every Victorian checks in when visiting a business to help contact tracers quickly find those who could be at risk of exposure,” he said.

But Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said the government should “park the fine” and focus on adequate communication.

Opposition police spokesman David Southwick added: “Instead of taking responsibility and encouraging people to use QR codes, the Andrews government is passing the buck and fining the very businesses they shut down last year.”

Originally published as Victorians under 50 will be able to get Pfizer jabs from next week