The COVID-19 vaccine rollout program is up and running. The vaccine will be distributed to the population in several different phases, starting with Australia’s most vulnerable and the health professionals that keep them safe.

The COVID-19 Vaccines National Rollout Strategy details the phases in which vaccines will be made available (See figure below). Frontline health care worker sub-groups, aged care and disability care staff will be included in the first phase (Phase 1a), as well as aged care and disability care residents. The remainder of health care workers and some critical/high risk workers will be vaccinated in Phase 1b. The rest of critical/high risk workers are to be included in Phase 2a.

It is important that until there is a sufficient portion of the population that has received the vaccine and are immune to the virus, we continue the effort to practise good hygiene, maintain physical distance, stay home if you are sick and get tested if you have COVID symptoms. We need to protect ourselves and our community.

We are not in the clear yet. As health workers, we know better than anyone that it is important that we show diligence during the tail end of the pandemic. But the end is near. All of our hard work is starting to pay off. Soon we will be able to breathe a much-needed sigh of relief. Then we will look to recovery. Recovery of our health and aged care systems, recovery of our wages and conditions, and recovery of what health workers deserve. If you have a question about the COVID-19 vaccine or require more information, do not hesitate to contact our Member Services Division on:

[E-Mail not displayed] or 1300 478 679.