Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to be rolled out across south-west Victoria from next week

Barwon Health is one of the nine health services announced for phase 1a of the Pfizer vaccine for high-risk, priority people.

As the region's 'vaccination hub' it will be responsible for distributing the vaccine to the south-west, including South West Healthcare, Portland District Health and Western District Health Service.

READ MORE: Barwon Health confirms COVID-19 vaccination hub for south-west

On Tuesday consent forms were expected to be distributed to aged care facility residents and workers.

The aged-care doses will cover more than 250 facilities across the country including regional and metropolitan homes.

South West Healthcare chief executive officer Craig Fraser said it welcomed the implementation of the government's COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap and was currently awaiting the arrival of vaccine consent forms.

"Residents and staff of residential aged care facilities have been prioritised as among the first people to choose to receive COVID-19 vaccines, however we are still awaiting clarity on timelines for the roll out," he said.

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A Mercy Place Warrnambool spokesman said vaccination programs in aged care were being administered by a private provider on behalf of the federal government.

They join Lyndoch Living, Mount View Aged Care Terang and Sunnyside House Camperdown which have not yet received the vaccine consent forms.

Sunnyside chief executive Claire Schmierer said it would hand out the forms closer to when it knows it is being included in the rollout.

"It will be interesting to see how it rolls out in other places first, I'm sure we won't be the first as a rural area, the priority will be in the city where there are more cases and a denser population," she said.

"I'm very pro-vaccination so I support it being done, this vaccine is no less effective than the flu vaccine, they're running at about the same efficacy.

"It will take a little time for some of the residents and their families to discuss what they want to do, it requires informed consent so we give them the information and let them have their say.

"I prefer everyone to have it but it's all up to personal choice.

"For employees too it's currently not mandated so it just depends if they want it."

The Commonwealth has advised that Victoria can now expect to receive approximately 11,000 doses per week of the Pfizer vaccine initially, dependent on supply.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to be available for use in March.

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