Vaccinations

Re: COVID-19 Vaccinations Information
In my capacity as the Federal Member for Fisher it is important that I keep our community up to date with matters that could impact you and that of your family
Andrew Wallace MP
Federal Member for Fisher
Good morning,
Re: COVID-19 Vaccinations Information.
In my capacity as the Federal Member for Fisher it is important that I keep our community up to date with matters that could impact you and that of your family.
As we head into year two of the pandemic it is more important than ever that we continue to do all we can to protect the lives of our fellow Australians. The first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is the Pfizer vaccine. 
The Pfizer vaccine has met strict standards for safety, quality and efficacy. The TGA provisional approval is for individuals 16 years of age and older. Two doses will be required – at least 21 days apart. In Australia COVID-19 vaccines will be rolled out in five phases over the coming months and, over time, will involve more than 1,000 vaccination administration sites.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there at the moment, as well as a lack of access to information about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines as they become available. The purpose of this letter is to assure you of the facts.
Australia has one of the most rigorous and advanced medical regulatory processes of anywhere in the world. All vaccinations must progress through the TGA’s stringent regulations.
 The TGA is part of the Federal Department of Health, and is responsible for regulating therapeutic goods including prescription medicines, vaccines, sunscreens, medical devices and vitamins. Almost any product for which therapeutic claims are made must be entered in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before it can be supplied in Australia.
 When any company, including those that supply vaccinations, wants to sell a prescription-only medicine in Australia, the TGA checks the evidence first, and only approves medicine if the balance of benefit and risk is acceptable for a particular condition. In this way, the TGA protects the health of the Australian Public. Monitoring continues to occur even after approval.
 COVID-19 vaccines will be voluntary, universal and free.
Vaccines train a person’s immune system to quickly recognise and clear out germs (bacteria and viruses) that can cause serious illness. They strengthen your immune system by training it to recognise and fight against specific germs. 
Please find enclosed further information about the COVID-19 vaccinations and don’t hesitate to get in touch should you have further questions.
It is an honour to be the Federal Member for Fisher and I hope you will find the information provided in this email is of benefit to you. Please feel free to share this with anyone else who you think might also be interested in this policy development.
Please don’t forget to like and follow my Facebook  and Instagram pages to see everything I am doing for you here in Fisher, both locally and in Canberra.
Kind regards
 
Andrew
 
Andrew Wallace MP
Federal Member for Fisher
The Edge, Unit 11 (L2) 10 Lake Kawana Boulevard, Bokarina QLD 4575
T    07 5493 5556
 
COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) RESOURCES
Frequently Asked Questions

Will there be enough vaccine for everyone?

The Government has invested over $3 billion to secure access to COVID-19 vaccines through advanced purchase agreements with AstraZeneca, Novavax and Pfizer.

Purchase of a diverse portfolio of vaccines will also allow the Australian Government to support our Pacific and South East Asian neighbours, as vaccine doses can be donated or on-sold (with no mark-up) to other countries or international organisations.

The Australian Government has purchased 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. However, any contract details and discussions with suppliers are commercial-in-confidence.

How will the vaccine be rolled out in regional, rural and remote Australia?

The Australian Government is committed to providing safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines free to everyone living in Australia - no matter where they live.

COVID-19 vaccine distribution locations and sites across Australia are currently being finalised with state and territory governments. The Government is also working with logistics experts to ensure cold chain and supply to all Australians, including rural and remote locations.

About 30-50 locations will be established as ongoing Hospital Hubs in both urban and rural Australia. In addition, there will be more than 1000 points of distribution nationwide with exact locations to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

These sites will include places such as GP Respiratory clinics, GPs, community pharmacies, state/territory vaccination clinics and Aboriginal Controlled Health Organisation clinics.

The Government’s call out to GPs and community pharmacies will strengthen the nation-wide rollout, and will allow those living in regional, rural and remote communities to access COVID- 19 vaccination if they choose.

The surge workforce announced last week will also partner with peak organisations and other providers to assist in administering the vaccine for harder-to-reach populations, such as rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The Department of Health will be working closely with key stakeholders, such as the National Rural Health Alliance, to ensure communities in regional, rural and remote Australia are informed about the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

As distribution planning is finalised, timely updates will be communicated and made available on www.health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines.

Will foreign nationals who are temporarily in Australia be eligible to receive the vaccine?

Everyone living in Australia will be able to receive the vaccine for free. This includes people on temporary visas, refugees, asylum seekers, those in detention centres and those with cancelled visas.

How will misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines be addressed?

As COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out in Australia, all media will play a vital role in presenting accurate, trusted and evidence based information. The Department of Health understands the role of social media in perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines, and is working to make sure credible information and informed voices are present.

Throughout the pandemic, the Department has been in regular contact with social media platforms around the spread of misinformation. The Department's social media accounts are monitored regularly and false information will be reported.

As more information becomes available through expert medical advice and complete data sets from clinical trials, the Department will provide timely updates through its channels, including its own social media channels and those of partners and stakeholders.

The Department is working in collaboration with Commonwealth, state and territory governments to identify and address any issues that arise, and provide accurate and timely information to Australians.

Health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines will also have a dedicated page addressing vaccine misinformation and concerns about any potential scams.

Where can I find information in languages other than English?

The Department of Health offers translated resources on its website here.

Will we still need other COVID-19 prevention measures?

Even with a safe and effective vaccine available in Australia, this will only be one part of keeping the community safe and healthy. It will be important for Australians to continue to practise good hygiene and physical distancing during the rollout.

Everyone still needs to:
1. wash your hands as often as possible
2. keep your distance where you can
3. stay at home if you feel sick and get tested 4. download the COVIDSafe app