Pharmacy Daily | Demand fuels Qld’s mass COVAX plan

QUEENSLAND Health is set to establish mass vaccination centres across the state in response to "a massive spike in demand" for COVID-19 vaccines (COVAX), Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, revealed this morning.

The Premier's announcement of planned mass vaccination centres contrasts with comments made by Queensland's Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young, at the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference last month, when she said she wanted community pharmacists "to do mass vaccination", rather than setting up "clinics in school halls on weekends."

In a Twitter thread posted this morning, Palaszczuk said the State Government was expanding its COVAX rollout to cover weekends to meet the interest in the vaccines from 40 to 49-year-olds.

"Eighteen vaccination centres will deliver Pfizer vaccinations on weekends, including three new dedicated community vaccination centres at Logan Entertainment Centre, Rocklea Showgrounds and Springfield Tower," she said.

"Up to 15,000 vaccinations are expected to be administered this weekend.

"Bookings will be offered to people in the 40 to 49-year-old category, who have registered their interest to get the vaccine as well as aged care and disability workers who are yet to be vaccinated by the Commonwealth Government.

"This expanded community rollout will help pave the way for mass vaccination centres operating later in the year when more supply [of COVAX] becomes available."

Palaszczuk urged Queenslanders aged 50 years and older to contact their GPs about booking their COVAX shot.

She added that Queensland Health was not encouraging "walk-ins" over the weekend, noting priority would be given to people who have already registered their interest in getting the jab.

Meanwhile, details of the 56 regional and rural pharmacies in Queensland that have been approved to administer COVAX have yet to be named.

However, it is expected that they will begin administering shots in the coming weeks.