All Tasmanians over the age of 50 will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine from May 3, as the state moves to accelerate the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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Premier Peter Gutwein announced the move on Thursday following a national cabinet meeting, where he said the fast-tracked approach was unanimously agreed upon.
"Given this, we will open up the vaccine rollout to all Tasmanians over 50 from May 3 in state community clinics, and GP practices will come online from the 17th," he said.
"This means the 2a phase is being brought forward, with anyone over age 50 will be eligible.
"GPs and state clinics will open to those 50 to 69 years old, and there may be some who may be able to take up a vaccination before those dates ... after priority has been given to those over 70 in their areas, in terms of GPs."
Mr Gutwein said Aboriginal Tasmanians aged 50 to 54 have also been brought forward, and are eligible to receive a vaccine from today.
"The prioritisation strategy remains and it's imperative that we all work together to rollout the vaccine as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible," he said.
"There is a long way to go and it's critical as many Tasmanians as possible get vaccinated when they become eligible."
To date, 69,820 Tasmanians have received a COVID-19 vaccine, with about 12.2 per cent of the population over 16 receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.
Earlier this week Mr Gutwein confirmed Tasmania would take on an additional load of administering about 12,000 COVID-19 vaccines in an effort to speed up the vaccine rollout for staff in aged care and disability service facilities.
On Thursday he said the Tasmanian vaccination team would work with the Commonwealth over the coming days to ensure aged and disability care workers have access to vaccines as a priority.
"The Australian Government are close to completing the vaccination of residents in aged care and will continue until completed in the next few weeks," he said.
Tasmania vaccination rollout to date:
The state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout is now in its ninth week.
Health Department secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said to date, 30,573 vaccine doses have been delivered in state clinics, including 8217 second doses to phase 1a workers.
"This means the state has now effectively completed vaccinating our priority, frontline, border, quarantine and healthcare workers in phase 1a," she said.
Ms Morgan-Wicks said as new staff join these workforces, they would also receive priority for vaccination.
Up to April 21, the Commonwealth has delivered 6291 doses in residential aged and disability care, while GP clinics have delivered 23,956 doses in Tasmania.
Just over 12 per cent of eligible Tasmanians have received the first dose of a COVID vaccine.
"As the volumes of vaccines, both Pfizer and AstraZeneca increase over the next few weeks, the state will increase our capacity to administer both Pfzier and AstraZeneca to the increased number of people that will now be eligible to receive them," Ms Morgan-Wicks said.
She said there was now about 100 Tasmanian GPs taking part in the rollout, with additional state community clinics to be opened.
"From next week we will have a Pfizer hub operating at the Mersey Community Hospital, for North-West residents who are eligible," she said.
"From the middle of May, we will be opening weekend Pfizer clinics in both Hobart and Launceston, in addition to existing Pfizer clinics in our hospitals."
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