Canberrans aged 16 to 29 years old are now eligible to register for their COVID-19 vaccine in the MyDHR system.
Many younger Canberrans have already rolled up their sleeves to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine from their GP or pharmacist, so the ACT Government expects to see strong demands from the roughly 64,000 people in the cohort.
“Canberrans have shown a willingness to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.
“We are leading the nation in the rollout, and I expect that the ACT will continue to be above the national average in the months ahead as supply increases.”
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said young Canberrans will now have more options when it comes to being vaccinated with Pfizer eligibility on the way.
“Becoming eligible to make a Pfizer booking will be a welcome development for many 16 to 29-year-olds who have seen the impact of the Delta strain on younger people,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“With demand at our ACT Government mass vaccine clinics already very high, and no Pfizer booking available for the general public until October, many younger Canberrans may still choose to talk to their trusted health professional about AstraZeneca.
“But soon they will at least have the opportunity to get some certainty by locking in a Pfizer vaccination appointment if that is their choice.”
Mr Barr said the vaccine registration process worked extremely well for Canberra’s 30 to 39-year-olds, with more than 20,000 people in this age group in the ACT booking an appointment on the first day of eligibility.
MyDHR online registration requires a Medicare card and an existing patient record at an ACT public health facility.
For assistance registering or if you do not have a Medicare card, you can still call the booking helpline on 02 5124 7700.
For information on COVID-19 vaccine registration in Canberra, visit www.covid19.act.gov.au/stay-safe-and-healthy/vaccine.
Meanwhile, children aged 12 to 15 living with a disability will be added to Australia’s coronavirus vaccine rollout from Wednesday.
The decision is expected to affect 40,000 National Disability Insurance Scheme participants who did not qualify under other eligibility criteria.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the expert immunisation panel was due to finalise advice on vaccinating all 12- to 15-year-olds this week.
“We are quietly hopeful that will be a double green light after the TGA,” he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved Pfizer for children in the age bracket.
The government is waiting for the tick from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.
Children between 12 and 15 who are immunocompromised, have an underlying medical condition, are Indigenous or in remote communities were already eligible.
Coronavirus outbreaks across Australia have sparked concerns more children are being infected with the Delta variant.
With AAP
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