About Covid-19 Vaccines

The article below is taken from the Queensland Government website and provides some very useful information about the COVID-19 vaccines and the Queensland rollout.  If you have any further questions, please call our office on 07 5531 3205. 

Queensland will have two COVID-19 vaccines available: Pfizer from late February and AstraZeneca from March. They are both safe and effective and offer strong protection against COVID-19.

Having a COVID-19 vaccine is an important step to take to reduce the serious effects of COVID-19 in people who become infected with the virus. Current evidence shows that people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine have a much lower chance of developing more serious symptoms from COVID-19. This is compared to those who did not get the vaccine.

Even though the COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be very effective there is still a chance you may get COVID-19. No vaccine is 100% effective.

However, it is important to understand that the COVID-19 vaccines will not infect you with the COVID-19 virus, because the vaccines do not contain live COVID-19 virus.

The COVID-19 vaccines will be voluntary and free.

The vaccines are designed to trigger our immune system to make antibodies to the spike protein of the virus. This means if you were to ever get the COVID-19 virus, your body is better prepared to fight the illness.

Importantly, even after vaccination, Queenslanders will still be encouraged to wash their hands regularly and maintain physical distance to help protect yourself and others.

For more information please read the Queensland COVID-19 vaccine information resource.

Vaccine development and testing

During development, vaccines are tested on thousands of volunteers through a number of phased trials which are designed to assesses the vaccine for safety and side effects and demonstrate:

• how the vaccine works
• that the vaccine prompts an effective immune response in different people
• that the vaccine is effective in preventing the general population from getting the disease

No testing phase has been skipped during the development of the COVID-19 vaccines. Some of the testing phases have been combined or run at the same time to help test COVID-19 vaccines quickly and make them available as soon as possible.

Only COVID-19 vaccines which have been approved by the TGA will be provided in Australia.

How is the COVID-19 vaccine given?

The vaccine is given via an injection into your upper arm by a health professional who has been trained in giving the COVID-19 vaccine.

To get the full benefit of the vaccine you will need two injections, at least several weeks apart.

Who can get the COVID-19 vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccinations will be given in a planned, staged approach. Those who are at higher risk of getting COVID-19 or of severe illness if they get COVID-19 will receive the COVID-19 vaccine first. 

Who cannot get the COVID-19 vaccine?

You must not get a COVID-19 vaccine if you have had any of the following:

• Anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) to a previous dose of the same COVID-19 vaccine
• Anaphylaxis after exposure to any ingredient of the COVID-19 vaccine.

If you have ever had a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis to anything else, including after receiving a vaccine, you can still get the vaccine, but you must tell the immunisation provider beforehand.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women

At this stage, COVID-19 vaccines are not routinely recommended to be given during pregnancy as there is limited experience with the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women. As we learn more about the vaccines, this advice may change.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before you receive this vaccine.

Side effects

All medicines and vaccines can cause side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention. Read about potential COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

Vaccine product information

• Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine product information
• AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine product information
• Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA): COVID-19 vaccines

Queensland rollout

Queensland’s vaccine strategy is guided by the COVID-19 vaccine National roll-out strategy. The Queensland rollout aims to protect our most vulnerable Queenslanders, protect and maintain a robust health system and contain COVID-19 at our international borders by protecting priority frontline health care, border and quarantine workers.

We aim to give every eligible Queenslander the opportunity to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.

COVID-19 vaccine rollout phases

Phase 1a

Frontline health care and quarantine workers, residents in care facilities

• Priority frontline health care workers, staff who work in :
  • providing direct clinical care to COVID-19 positive individuals
  • COVID-19/Infectious Disease Wards
  • Emergency Departments
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Queensland Ambulance Service frontline responders
  • Fever and Respiratory Clinics
  • public and private (international) aeromedical retrieval teams
  • Pathology staff, medical researchers and scientists working with SARS-CoV-2
• Priority quarantine and border workers:
  • staff who work in quarantine facilities including workers who deliver health services, personal services, security services, all front and back of house hotel and cleaning services, and passenger transport services
  • staff who work in air and sea border security including relevant Australian Federal
    Police and Queensland Police Service staff
  • Queensland residents working in international air crew
  • marine pilots
• Aged care and disability care workers (vaccination rollout managed by the Australian Government Health department)
• Aged care and disability care residents (vaccination rollout managed by the Australian Government Health department)

Estimated population: 125k, up to 250k doses

Phase 1b

Individuals with higher risks

• Elderly adults aged 70 years and over
• Other health care workers
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55
• Younger adults with an underlying medical condition, including those with a disability
• Critical and high risk workers including defence, police, fire emergency services and meat processing

Estimated population: 1.049m, up to 2.098m doses

Phase 2a

Individuals with moderate risks

• Adults aged 50-69 years
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18-54
• Other critical and high risk workers

Estimated population: 1.255m, up to 2.51m doses

Phase 2b

Rest of adult population

• Balance of adult population
• Catch up any unvaccinated Australians from previous phases

Estimated population: 1.496m, up to 2.992m doses

Phase 3

Children and young adults

People under the age of 18 if recommended

Estimated population: 1.177m, up to 2.354m doses

Vaccination process

Vaccination hub locations

Every hospital and health service in Queensland will be providing vaccinations in Phase 1a. The rollout will begin with the Pfizer vaccine at the following locations:

• Gold Coast University Hospital
• Princess Alexandra Hospital
• Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
• Sunshine Coast University Hospital
• Townsville University Hospital
• Cairns Hospital
• Residential Disability and Aged Care Facilities (managed by the Australian Government)

Downloads

COVID-19 vaccine Queensland roll-out strategy (PDF)

Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy

Source: Queensland Government Website: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccine