Scroll down for a list of medical centres offering the vaccine in the Illawarra.
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The Illawarra general practices approved to administer COVID-19 vaccines in Phase 1b of the national rollout have been revealed.
Seventeen GPs from Thirroul to Kiama are among the 1000 centres across the nation which will join the vaccination program from next week.
They include Bulli Medical Practice, with co-director Dr Julie Blaze expecting the shipment of AstraZeneca vaccine to arrive on Friday.
"We've done all the training and planning, now we're waiting on delivery of the vaccine," she said.
"We're expecting 400 doses on Friday, and then we will start administering the vaccine on Saturday morning.
"Already lots of people have shown interest - some of our older patients and those with underlying conditions, as well as others who are not on our books. Once we get the vaccine, we will open up our online booking system."
Dr Blaze said the practice, which also contained a travel vaccination centre, was well positioned to be part of the rollout.
"We have the facilities, we have the interest," she said. "We think it's important for everyone to contribute to trying to get on top of this pandemic."
Federal health minister Greg Hunt said services would come online from March 22 and progressively increase to more than 4000 by the end of April.
"This staged scale-up will align with the supply of the locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine, and as more vaccine becomes available more services will come online," he said.
Phase 1b includes vulnerable groups, such as older people and people with certain underlying medical conditions.
Mr Hunt said the next phase in the rollout complemented the Phase 1a rollout of the nation's most vulnerable residents and frontline workers - which had seen around 200,000 vaccinated.
Those eligible for Phase 1b will be able to find a vaccination provider through the Department of Health website.
Here people can locate their nearest GP providing General Practice Respiratory Clinic vaccinations and link through to their online booking system or phone number to make the appointment.
People will still be able to book their vaccine appointments directly at a participating GP.
"General practices will play a major role in ensuring all Australians who seek to be vaccinated have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines," Mr Hunt said.
"Vaccines are the game changer in our fight against the COVID-19 virus and I urge everyone in Australia to come forward and get vaccinated when they are able to. It will protect themselves, their family, and their community.
"There will be six million Australians in Phase 1B, and not all will be able to be vaccinated immediately."
Where can I get the vaccine in the Illawarra?
Clinics administering vaccines from Week 1 of phase 1b include:
- Thirroul Medical Practice
- Bulli Medical Practice
- Woonona Medical Practice
- Corrimal Healthcare Centre
- Fairy Meadow Medical Centre
- Illawarra Family Medical Centre, Wollongong
- Wollongong Medical Centre
- Crown Medical Centre, Figtree
- Illawarra Medical Services, Berkeley
- Warrawong Accident & Medical Centre
- Dapto Medical Centre
- Dapto Medical and Family Practice
- Windang Beach Family Medical Practice
- Centre Health Complex, Barrack Heights
- Shellharbour Family Healthcare
- Shellharbour City General Practice
- Kiama Downs Medical Practice
- Kiama Medical Practice
The full list of GP clinics can be found here.
Am I eligible for Phase 1b?
Phase 1b covers:
- People aged 70 or older who did not receive the vaccine during phase 1a
- Healthcare workers who did not receive a vaccine during phase 1a
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
- Adults with underlying medical conditions
- Adults with disabilities who have underlying medical conditions
- Critical and high-risk workers such as defence workers, police, firefighters, emergency services and meat processing workers.
Adults with underlying medical conditions will need to prove their condition via the My Health Record, a health professional referral or a declaration form.
If you want to find out when you will be eligible for the vaccination, take the eligibility test here.
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