We have yet to receive specific information from the Commonwealth Department of Health (DoH) or the Victorian Department of Health (DH) regarding the community rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of the brand offered to you, are:
- safe and effective
- free for everyone living in Australia
- will help protect you and the community from COVID-19
The COVID-19 vaccine will become available in phases. These phases have been identified using public health, medical and epidemiological evidence. This mean different groups of people will get the COVID-19 vaccine at different times. The groups are Phase 1a, Phase 1b, Phase 2a, Phase 2b and Phase 3. You may need to provide evidence of eligibility to your vaccination provider before you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Click here to find out your group and when you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
In Victoria, Phase 1a commenced on the 22/02/2021 to high risk frontline workers and aged/disability care staff and residents.
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the general community is expected to reach Phase 1b around the middle of March 2021, however the date of Phase 1b may change. This will occur in medical centres and other community locations.
Phase 1b group will include:
- Elderly adults aged > 70 years old.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people > 55 years old.
- Adults > 18 years old with an underlying medical condition*, including those with a disability.
- Critical and high risk workers (eg: medical, defence, emergency services and meat processing).
(*heart disease, respiratory conditions, diabetes, neurological conditions, immunocompromising conditions, renal disease or haematological disorders)
Click here if you fall into Phase 1b and would like to complete a COVID-19 vaccine preparedness survey.
There is currently no need to register to be vaccinated. You may be able to book online through a centralised booking service as the rollout progresses but unfortunately this has yet to be finalised or announced by the DoH or DH.
Victoria Harbour Medical Centre understands that this may be a confusing and anxious time for many of our patients. We will try to provide updates regarding the rollout of Phase 1b via our clinic website when more information if made available to us.
While you wait to be vaccinated for COVID-19, there are some things you can do to get ready.:
- Click here to find out what you should do before you get vaccinated for COVID-19.
- Click here to download a fact sheet about preparing for the COVID-19 vaccination.
- Click here to subscribe for email updates about to the COVID-19 vaccination.
- Book a Telehealth consultation with one of our GPs to discuss your concerns.
- Call 24/7 the COVID-19 vaccine hotline on 1800 020 080
Click here for information about side effects and after care following your COVID-19 vaccine.
Click here for further digital information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Click here for information about the COVID-19 vaccine for people with disabilities including Auslan video resources.
Information about the COVID-19 vaccine has been translated into multiple languages. Click here to find information in your language.


