WA to offer COVID-19 vaccines to 30-49 year olds

Western Australians between the ages of 30 and 49 will now be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine starting this Thursday.

The new cohort will be able to receive the Pfizer vaccine at state-run clinics. Those over 50 will always receive the Astra-Zeneca jab.

Premier Mark McGowan has described the development as a “fast track” for vaccine deployment.

“We are opening the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination to a larger group of people, with the aim of building momentum and getting more people vaccinated as soon as possible,” he said.

By the end of the month, more than 30,000 immunization appointments will be available each week at state-run clinics.

As of last night, 67,313 people had been fully vaccinated in WA, or 3.2% of the state’s population over the age of 16.

Across Australia, around 613,000 people – or about 2.9% of Australians over 16 – have received both vaccines and are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

So far, only those over 50 have been eligible for the jab in WA, along with vulnerable people, frontline workers, caregivers and other high-risk groups.

Health Minister Roger Cook has vowed the “aggressive stance” will energize WA’s deployment.

“It’s a large cohort, it’s a substantial part of the adult population. And so we really expect to make progress now in terms of the immunization program, ”Mr. Cook said.

“I think everyone is frustrated that Western Australia, in fact the country, has not progressed on the immunization schedule that we would have liked.”

Mr. Cook promised the state “has the supply” to support the expansion. The state expects 1.2 million doses of Pfizer and Astra Zeneca over the next eight weeks.

Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders aged 16 and over can now also be vaccinated.

Mr McGowan said he hoped the expansion was “the light at the end of the tunnel”.

“I think there will be a lot of demand,” he said.

“If you want to get vaccinated, make an appointment. If you ride, you probably won’t get in, so you have to reserve your time, make your appointment.

The government will also open a new state-run regional clinic at the Bunbury Homemaker Center. This clinic will administer jabs from Thursday.

To make a vaccine appointment, call 13 COVID (13 26843) between 8 am and 6 pm, seven days a week. Otherwise, visit rollup.wa.gov.au to book it online.