March 24th, 2022Boosters for winter

Victoria’s priority postcodes are at the heart of an autumn push to increase COVID-19 third dose vaccination rates in the lead up to winter.
The autumn blitz is delivering more than 120 pop-ups across March, with a focus on areas where third dose uptake is lower than the state average of 62 per cent and where there are lower numbers of GP and pharmacy services – including Hume, Brimbank, Dandenong, Melton, Moreland, Casey and Darebin.
The vaccination drive includes opportunities for Victorians to walk up to get vaccinated as they go about their daily lives, with vaccination available at libraries, sports facilities, malls, markets, festivals, playgrounds, primary schools and even at Bunnings.
More than 600 pop-ups have been set up since the beginning of the year across Victoria, with 60 delivered so far this month and another 60 remaining. Pop-ups over the next week include:
• Footscray Library (16 March)
• Salvation Army Brimbank, Queen Victoria Market, and Moe Apex Park (17 March)
• Rezza Fest Darebin, Reservoir Neighbourhood House and Fawkner Community Sporting Hall (18 March)
• Wingate Community Centre Maribyrnong and Triangle Park Towong (21 March)
With the number of primary care providers administering vaccines increasing from fewer than 1,000 in the second half of 2021 to more than 2,000 today, GPs and community pharmacies are now delivering a larger share of the state’s vaccinations – as much as 70 per cent.
To reflect this shift in distribution and demand towards primary care providers and localised vaccination services, vaccinations will stop at the Royal Exhibition Building from Wednesday, 23 March.
St Vincent’s Health will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines through outreach services and mobile vaccination vans. Remaining larger fixed vaccination sites across suburban Melbourne will continue to operate.
Victorian figures show that two thirds of Victorians are getting their third dose when they fall due at three months – but there are still 1.7 million Victorians still due for their third dose. In Regional Victoria, Latrobe, Mildura, and Mitchell are the only Local Government Areas under the state average.
To stay protected and reduce the impact of COVID-19, book the next dose of your vaccine today at a GP or pharmacy, or book or walk-in at a vaccination centre at www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine.
Minister for Health Martin Foley: “Don’t rely on two doses to get you through this winter. If you are due, make March the month you get your third. We thank all the staff at St Vincent’s Hospital for delivering more than 400,000 doses at the Royal Exhibition Building and helping to protect so many Victorians from COVID-19. More and more Victorians are choosing to get vaccinated at clinics closer to home thanks to the growing number of GPs and pharmacies who are delivering the vaccine.”