Vaccines are a safe way to train a person’s immune system to quickly recognise and fight viruses that can cause serious illnesses like COVID-19.
Vaccines prime the immune system to rapidly respond if infected with that virus. Vaccines will not cause the disease.
What vaccines are being purchased in Australia?
The Australian Government has purchased three vaccines from different vaccine manufacturers.
How will vaccines get approved in Australia?
Each COVID-19 vaccine must meet Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration, or T-G-A's strict requirements for safety, quality and effectiveness before it’s allowed to be administered.
The TGA will continue to closely monitor the vaccines to rapidly detect and respond to any emerging safety issues both in Australia and overseas. The TGA also checks the quality of every batch of vaccine supplied in Australia before they are released.
Who will get the vaccine first in Australia?
There are multiple phases of the vaccination roll-out plan to ensure the vaccines get to the people who need it most.
The first phase of vaccinations will be for people most at-risk.
Phase 1a: Quarantine and border workers, frontline healthcare workers, aged care and disability care staff and residents
Phase 1b: People over 70, other healthcare workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, younger adults with underlying medical conditions, including a disability, high-risk workers including police, fire, defence, emergency services and meat processing.
Phase 2a: People over 50, and other critical and high-risk workers.
Phase 2b: Balance of adult population, catch up any unvaccinated people from previous phases
Phase 3: Children, if recommended
During all phases, the vaccine will be given in two doses, generally 3 to 4 weeks apart. The health professional vaccinating you will confirm when you need to get your second dose.
COVID-19 vaccines will be free for all Australian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary visa-holders.
While vaccination is voluntary, health authorities encourage everyone who can, to get vaccinated for the safety of our community.
Where will people be able to get the vaccine?
During the first phase, the vaccine is being given to people at hospital sites across Australia and residential aged care and residential disability care facilities
During the second phase, the vaccine will be available more widely.
Stay informed via health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines to find out where to get yours when it is your turn.
It’s important to continue to be COVID-safe even after getting the vaccine.
Keep up to date by visiting sbs.com.au/coronavirus
