The number of Tasmanians receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is set to significantly increase, with the state's supply expected to grow to 24,000 doses over the next three weeks.
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Five weeks into the vaccination strategy, a total of 11,728 vaccines have been administered through state clinics - including 2178 second doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
The federal government has also delivered 4794 doses in residential aged care and disability care, and across GP clinics up to March 24.
It brings the total number of doses administered in Tasmania to 16,522.
Against a national total of just over 400,000, Health Department secretary Kathrine Morgan Wicks said Tasmania continued to "punch above its weight" when it came to the vaccine rollout.
"I am pleased to to report that the program has continued to rollout smoothly in these regions, with another 680 people vaccinated at the Launceston General Hospital this week, and 312 at the North West Regional," she said.
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As of Friday, three of four planned state-run community vaccine clinics are now operating across the state, as part of the Phase 1b rollout - which is entering its second week.
This includes a clinic at the Tasmanian Turf Club at Mowbray, with about 100 people booked in for their first dose of the vaccination on Friday afternoon and another 130 on Saturday.
A New Norfolk clinic, set to open on Sunday, also has almost 480 people booked in over the next four days.
Ms Morgan Wicks said the growth of the state's vaccine supply to 24,000 doses was a significant increase from the first three weeks of the program, which delivered just over 1000 doses a week.
"This means a lot of work for those managing the delivery, and the safe storage of vaccine supplies and a steady increase in the number of Tasmanians being vaccinated," she said.
People eligible for vaccines as part of Phase 1b:
- 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
Meanwhile, Health Minister Sarah Courtney urged those eligible under Phase 1b of the rollout to be patient, with about 180,000 Tasmanians expected to be vaccinated under the program.
"It is going to take us several months to be able to get through everybody," she said.
More GPs will also be joining the rollout over the next few weeks, along with GP-led respiratory clinics at Derwent Park, Launceston and St Helens.
Ms Courtney reminder people not to just turn up at one of the vaccine clinics, with Tasmanians encouraged to phone the Public Health hotline on 1800 020 080 or visit the Health Direct eligibility checker.
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Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
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