Australia brings forward Covid-19 vaccinations for people over 50

Sydney, May. 3 (BNA): Australia is bringing forward Covid-19 vaccinations for people over 50, the government has confirmed.

Anyone over 50 is eligible to get vaccinated from Monday, with jabs initially being offered at General Practice Respiratory Clinics, as well as state and territory mass vaccination clinics, Deutsche press agency (dpa) reported.

People will be able to get inoculated at general GP clinics participating in the roll-out from May 17.

In New South Wales the Covid-19 vaccination strategy is being staggered to stop the system being overwhelmed, the state’s health minister, Brad Hazzard, told Nine’s Today show on Monday.

“What I would want to stress, though, is that in the first instance people with a GP should go to their GP,” he said in remarks reported by Australian Associated Press (AAP).

“Obviously most of us over 50 … have some sort of health issue and it is far better that you be able to talk to your GP,” Hazzard added.

The National Cabinet last month agreed to fast-track the vaccination of Australians over the age of 50.

Bringing the vaccinations forward for people over 50 means almost 6 million Australians not yet vaccinated in the 50- to 69-year-old cohort are now eligible for the shot, Australian broadcaster ABC reported.  

The country of around 25 million people fell far short of its initial target to administer 4 million jabs by the end of March, and last month scrapped its original pledge to vaccinate its entire adult population by October.

As of May 1, just over 2.2 million jabs were administered.

M.I.