The last 18 months has been a time of incredible stress and collective trauma. The ongoing threat of COVID-19, and negative impact isolation and lockdowns have had on our access and mental wellbeing has been a key concern of our members during this time. The vaccination rollout in Australia has been slow, and filled with miscommunication, but getting vaccinated is one of the best things we can all do to end lockdowns whilst keeping everyone safe.
This page has been designed to provide you the resources and information you need to find out more about who is applicable for vaccination, what is the truth about vaccination, and is vaccination right for you.
Additional Resources
What Vaccine Can I Get?
Currently the Vaccine roll out in Australia is based around two vaccines, commonly referred to as AstraZeneca, and Pfizer. With each having separate rollouts and criteria to access.
Can I even get vaccinated, and if not, when?
The Australian government have put together this amazing resource to determine if you are able to be vaccinated on the current rollouts of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca.
https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility?lang=en
Just enter your details and see if you are currently able to be vaccinated.
Currently everyone over 16 can get vaccinated. There is not yet a update on accessibility for people under 16.
How do I book?
To find out how to book your vaccination, click here!
In short though, you can call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398, or book via the online tool here
Most appointments will be at your nearest available vaccination hub, but some local GPs are administering AstraZeneca vaccinations, so give them a call if you would prefer to go through them.
Why should I get vaccinated?
We understand that a lot of people are hesitant around getting vaccinated, either due to concerns about the vaccine itself, or due to past experiences with the medical system and injections as a whole.
The fact is, that unless we work together to achieve at least 70-80% of the population vaccinated, we are likely to be in this cycle of lockdowns for a long time to come. You can read more about that here!
The reason for this is what is called herd immunity. The more people vaccinated, the less the virus is able to spread. By being vaccinated, you are not just protecting yourself, but you are protecting everyone else around you, especially those who for one reason for another, are just not able to be vaccinated at this time. To protect those people, the rest of us need to step up and get vaccinated as soon as we can. You can find out more about herd immunity via this video here!
There is also the risk of more punitive measures in place. Some industries, like aged care, are making vaccinations mandatory, and other care industries are likely to follow suite. Furthermore, other restrictions may be put in place, such on restrictions on travel, for unvaccinated people, as the rollout progress’, but these are still up in the air. You can read more about it here.
I am worried about the risks and have other questions.
It is totally understandable to be concerned about vaccinations, especially with so much miscommunication and politics around the current rollout. For the vast majority of people, the worst they have to worry about is feeling a bit under the weather for a day or two after you have been vaccinated.
With that in mind, because there have been a couple of rare cases in Australia of more serious side effects, the best thing you can do, is have chat to your local trusted GP, before you book your appointment.
We have also linked here this resource by The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), which has some great in depth answers to pretty much any question you can have in regards to your vaccination.
In short though, even with some rare cases of risk associated with vaccinations. The risks associated with contracting COVID-19 are far greater, and far more prevalent.