UPDATED 27 JULY
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With both the State and Federal Governments involved in the rollout of COVID-19 jabs, two different types of vaccines on offer and different rules applying to different age groups, we don’t blame you for being confused about the vaccine rollout in Far North Queensland.
There are both State and Federal Government phone numbers and websites for registering for vaccines and booking appointments, and it all depends on what type of vaccine you’re eligible for.
Tropic Now has done the research so you know where to start.
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Australians aged 40 to 59, or who fall under certain eligibility criteria, are able to get the Pfizer vaccine.
Australians aged 18 and over can also choose to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.
In line with the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the Pfizer vaccine will be prioritised for people under 60 years of age across all phases.
The AstraZeneca vaccine will be prioritised for people aged 60 years and over.
Both AstraZeneca and Pfizer are free and voluntary.
General Practitioners in the region only have the AstraZeneca vaccine, available to anyone aged 18 and over.
There is a Federal Government hotline (1800 020 080) you can use to find out which GPs are giving jabs, however the line is often clogged up.
Go to Tropic Now’s guide to Cairns clinics offering AstraZeneca here or fill our the eligibility form here to find a clinic close to you.
Cairns South Health Facility in Edmonton and James Cook University's vaccine hub in Smithfield have both AstraZeneca and Pfizer, and are currently taking phone bookings.
However, from time to time, people outside the Pfizer eligibility can get the jabs as the health service aims to minimise wastage of the vials, which have a use-by date.
“Every dose of COVID-19 vaccine is precious,” a spokesperson from the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service told Tropic Now.
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IN OTHER AREAS:
Mossman Hospital is offering Pfizer vaccines from Mondays to Wednesdays, as well as Saturdays.
Mareeba Hospital is administering Pfizer shots on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while AstraZeneca is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Atherton Hospital is offering Pfizer from Mondays to Wednesdays, and AstraZeneca is available Thursdays.
Innisfail Hospital is administering Pfizer vaccines Monday to Friday, though GP clinic bookings are available for the AstraZeneca vaccine. See the list of clinics here.
For bookings phone 1800 861 863 or register online here.
A mobile vaccine van has been visiting other smaller centres with the Pfizer vaccine.
The next locations it will visit are Chillagoe and Dimbulah. Find the schedule here.
Cairns Hospital has recently wound down to service only Queensland Health staff and high-risk patients.
Queensland Health says it is exploring strategies to ensure the vaccine rollout progresses, including establishing community-based vaccination locations.
The good news is that our vaccination rates are among the best in Queensland on a per capita basis.
Across the Cairns and Hinterland region, more than 60,000 jabs have been administered.
HOW DOES THAT COMPARE?
It’s about 10,000 behind the Sunshine Coast.
Townsville has given almost 50,000 inoculations, while the Wide Bay and Darling Downs districts have 30,000 each.
In Mackay, less than 15,000 vaccines have been administered.
* Tropic Now aims to continually update this story, along with all COVID-19-related coverage, with the latest information. Therefore this story may have been edited since its publication date.
Main points
- See the lists of local GP clinics and vaccine hubs giving jabs
- Find out which locations are administering which vaccine and how to book
- More than 60,000 doses have been administered across the Cairns & Hinterland region
