THOUSANDS of vaccine appointments are available across Victoria over the coming weeks, including over 20,000 this week alone.
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Health authorities are urging the community to roll up their sleeve and get vaccinated as Victoria recorded 57 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.
Of the 57 new cases, 44 were in isolation while infectious and 54 are linked to the current outbreaks.
This leaves three as mystery cases currently.
Of today's cases, 41 are a result of day-13 testing for several close contacts associated with outbreaks at schools, including Al-Taqwa College and Mt Alexander College.
Premier Daniel Andrews said it was the system "working exactly as it should."
There are 296 positive cases across the state, with 16 Victorians in hospital and three in intensive care. Around 45 per cent of the active cases are children and teenagers.
There were 49,607 tests returned on Wednesday and 27,581 vaccinations administered.
Over two million Victorians have now been vaccinated.
Over the next week there 14,000 free Pfizer vaccine appointments and 12,000 AstraZeneca available for booking.
"There are literally thousands of appointments available over the next weke and over the next five weeks as we look to get a million jabs in a million arms," the premier said.
- To book in for your vaccine or register your interest, head to: https://southwesthealthcare.com.au/covid-19-information/
WARRNAMBOOL COVID NEWS
New figures released yesterday shone more light on Warrnambool's vaccine rollout.
The region has taken the lead in the COVID-19 vaccine uptake, recording the highest number of first doses in Victoria.
Latest federal health data shows 57.9 per cent of the Warrnambool and south-west population aged over 15 have received their first jab, surpassing the entirety of Melbourne, Geelong and Bendigo.
In the past week the south-west saw the second fastest uptake of first doses, with 3.4 per cent of residents rolling up their sleeve, just behind west Melbourne (3.7 per cent).
Of the 529 locally-acquired coronavirus cases since July 12, 80 were eligible to be vaccinated but hadn't been, 45 had received one dose and 23 were fully vaccinated.
Of the 14 cases in hospital, none were partially or fully vaccinated; nine were eligible for vaccination but hadn't been and five were not eligible.
"Both Pfizer and AstraZeneca provide 90 per cent protection against serious illness, hospitalisation and against loss of life," Victorian Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie said.
Three repeat coronavirus detections in Shepparton wastewater and in Lakes Entrance are causing concern for health authorities, who urge those communities to come forward and get tested if they have even the slightest of symptoms.
New drive-through vaccination clinics will open at the former Ford Factory in Broadmeadows, Sandown Racecourse in Springdale and the Eagle Stadium in Werribee.
A pop-up vaccine hub and testing site have been set up in a beachside suburb of Melbourne, as concern grows about the number of people unknowingly infected with COVID-19 in the area.
Fifteen coronavirus cases have been linked to St Kilda in recent days, six of them mystery infections, including a sex worker.
COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar is asking anyone who lives or works in the area to come forward for testing even if they don't have symptoms.
Of today's new cases:
- LINKED: 38 to Al Taqwa College, three Glenroy West Primary School, one to Caroline Springs; one to Newport Football Club, one Newport contact, one to 510 Lygon Street, three to the St Kilda East gathering, three household contacts of positive cases, three to Central Park Pizza Shop.
- UNLINKED: One in Glenroy, one in Ascot Vale and one in Doncaster.
Testing and vaccines efforts have been ramped up around St Kilda, including a drive-through and walk-up testing centre at the Palais Theatre car park and a pop up vaccine hub at Peanut Farm Reserve.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"It is designed to be available to eligible members of the local community, offering AstraZeneca and Pfizer as a walk-up," she said.
A number of exposure sites have been listed in the suburb, including the Salvation Army Crisis Centre and the Sacred Heart Mission Women's House and Dining Hall.
The women's house and dining hall have been closed after a case visited between August 10 and 16, as staff, volunteers and clients undergo testing.
"Each interaction was conducted outdoors and with staff wearing PPE, however, as a precaution both sites have undergone a thorough clean," Sacred Heart Mission said in a statement.
Melbourne Airport's International Departures check in area has also been listed as an exposure site, after a case went there on August 11 between 8.30pm and 10.30pm.
AAP understands the infected person went there to see someone off and was not a passenger themselves.
There were more than 530 exposure sites across many parts of Melbourne as of Wednesday night, including two playgrounds in Broadmeadows and York St Kindergarten in Glenroy.
See all the exposure sites here.
Of Monday's 24 cases, 20 have been linked to existing outbreaks, while 18 were in quarantine while infectious.
Melbourne is 14 days into its sixth lockdown, which was extended on Monday until September 2.
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