People aged between 30 and 39 in Canberra can now book in for their Pfizer vaccine at an ACT Government clinic, as the ACT reaches the milestone of 50% of adults having had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The ACT Government made the announcement this morning, after Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said yesterday appointments would be available “very soon”.
ACT Health will contact everyone who has registered through MyDHR with a notification that vaccine appointments are now open.
All 30-39-year-olds in the ACT are encouraged to make an appointment for their Pfizer jab as soon as possible.
Ms Stephen-Smith said yesterday vaccination is “the pathway” out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So while being vaccinated doesn’t stop you from getting COVID-19 or acquiring the virus… it’s extremely likely that it will stop you getting very sick and it will also reduce the potential for transmission risk associated with getting the virus,” she said.
The ACT Government says half of the ACT’s eligible adult population have had their first dose of the vaccine, and nearly 25% have had both doses.
Ms Stephen-Smith and Chief Minister Andrew Barr issued a joint statement this morning urging all eligible Canberrans to roll up their sleeves for the jab.
“There is no other viable alternative to protect yourself and the people around you from very serious illness,” they said.
“There is no other alternative to ending the lockdowns and the travel restrictions that have impacted on our lives.
“The vaccines significantly reduce the risk of ending up in ICU because of a COVID-19 infection. The more people who get a vaccination, the better protected our entire community will be.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said yesterday the Territory would need to “have a conversation” about what the future would look like for vaccinated people versus those that aren’t.
“So the decisions that we take in terms of vaccination to protect the most vulnerable in the community, but then the decisions that we take in terms of what that means for individual freedoms – I think those are really important conversations for us to have, as a community.”
It comes as Australia’s vaccine advisory group yesterday recommended the Pfizer vaccine for at-risk children aged between 12 and 15.
To book a vaccine appointment or find out if you’re eligible, visit the ACT Government’s COVID-19 website.
