Free vaccinations are available to all Australian visa holders, as well as to some people living in detention centers whose visas have been cancelled.
The Federal Government has purchased an additional 10 million doses of Pfizer vaccine to provide free vaccinations to all visa holders. Previously, approximately 69,000 people on certain visas were denied access to free vaccinations.
Federal health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday emphasized the willingness and need for government-community partnerships on vaccination issues.
“Vaccination is very important and the more Australians who get vaccinated the better,” he told reporters.
“We need to make sure that everyone on Australian soil is safe and that everyone on Australian soil can be protected.”
People living in detention centers can now also get free vaccinations, even if their visas have been cancelled.
The government has also allocated an additional $1.3 million to lead agencies in diverse communities to provide advice to communities about vaccinations and to ensure that these messages are effectively communicated to communities.
The national Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) vaccine awareness program includes translating awareness messages into 32 languages and making them widely available through radio, newspapers, video, social media and other media. The Commonwealth Department of Health has worked with the Australian Immigration Commission to produce promotional animations about the vaccine, which have been translated into 29 languages.
Australia has ordered 150 million doses of the vaccine
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Thursday that Australia has purchased an additional 10 million doses of Pfizer vaccine.
The European Union has imposed strict controls on local vaccine exports after suffering a shortage of vaccine supplies.
Federal Health Secretary Brendan Murphy said the additional vaccines would provide “additional insurance and more options” for Australia’s vaccination program.
He told reporters that Australia is expected to launch a three-vaccine program this year.
“All three vaccines have shown excellent efficacy in preventing clinically significant new crown diseases.”
Hunt added that the first dose of Pfizer vaccine is on track to arrive in Australia in late February, with AstraZeneca’s arrival scheduled for the first week of March.
Australia has now ordered 150 million doses of the vaccine, including doses for some Pacific Island countries. This includes 20 million doses of Pfizer, 53.8 million doses of Pfizer, 51 million doses of Novavax and 25 million doses of vaccine that will arrive in Australia through the global COVAX program.
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