Victoria mulls more vax sites for boosters
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Victoria is considering expanding its stable of state-run vaccination sites before Christmas to aid the rollout of COVID-19 booster shots, as daily cases hit a six-week high.
Roughly 720,000 Victorians are eligible for a booster after the interval was shortened this week from six to five months from the second jab.
The state government had previously flagged it would close eight state-run vaccination clinics by mid-December, including the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
But it is now exploring scaling up to meet rising demand, with more than 10,000 doses administered at state-run facilities on Wednesday.
“We are investigating whether to expand operations through to Christmas to make sure people have access to their boosters,” Acting Premier James Merlino told reporters on Thursday.
“The feds are responsible for the rollout of the vaccine, (via) GPs and pharmacies, and we’re doing everything we can through our 58 state sites.”
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has backed the plan.
“I can’t imagine why the state government or any government would look at closing vaccination hubs when they’re going to be just as busy over the coming months giving booster shots,” he said.
It comes as Victoria reported 1622 new COVID-19 cases and a further nine deaths after the state slightly eased restrictions overnight despite the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Thursday’s daily case figure is the highest since October 29, and the state is managing 12,252 active infections as well as 384 patients in hospital.
From 11.59pm on Wednesday, vaccine mandates were scrapped in several settings in Victoria but masks are still compulsory in retail stores.
Shoppers no longer need to prove they are vaccinated to visit non-essential retail outlets, places of worship, weddings, funerals, and real estate inspections and auctions.
Victorians under 18 also don’t need to show proof of vaccination any more.
However, hair and beauty customers must still be fully vaccinated, as must all patrons of restaurants, bars and cafes.
Mask mandates remain in all retail settings despite Premier Daniel Andrews flagging in mid-November they would be repealed.
Health Minister Martin Foley explained Omicron had “changed the landscape”, with 10 cases of the new variant already detected in the state.
The backflip has drawn criticism from Victoria’s Chamber of Commerce and the opposition.
“We can’t keep having a government that changes the goalposts on us,” Mr Guy said.
“The health minister says it’s all about one word – Omicron. I say it’s all about one word – vaccinations.
“We’ve got more than 92 per cent of us vaccinated. Now we deserve the rewards and the certainty for doing the right thing.”
The changes, part of new pandemic orders signed by Mr Foley on Wednesday, will remain in place until January 12.
