Vaccine Rollout

THE rollout of the coronavirus vaccine will begin in the Northern Territory next week, the Chief Minister has announced.

In a press conference this morning, Michael Gunner revealed the details for the first stage – Phase 1a – of the vaccine rollout in the Territory.

He said quarantine workers, border control workers, and high-risk hospital and health care workers will be among the first to receive the jab.

There are about 3000 Territorians in this cohort.

Aged care workers and disability workers will also be part of Phase 1a.

There are a further 1500 people in this cohort.

“The focus in the early stages is getting the vaccine to the most at-risk, like our incredible frontline workers, as well as vulnerable Territorians,” Mr Gunner said.

He said the Territory would be starting off “small” and the Commonwealth will be “equal partners” in the complex rollout including responsibility to vaccinate those in the aged care and disability care systems.

He also said authorities would contact those workers that will be jabbed under Phase 1a.

Phase 1b is expected to begin in early March.

The NT will roll out the Pfizer vaccine to begin with.

While the NT scales up its logistics in order to transport the Pfizer vaccine, which requires ultra cold temperatures of -70C, the single vaccine hub at the Territory will be at the Royal Darwin Hospital.

A second vaccine hub is expected to be established Alice Springs Hospital in coming weeks.

“The first few stages are targeted and fairly small,” Mr Gunner said.

“Most Territorians won’t get their vaccine until the second half of the year, and that’s okay.

“Getting the jab is good for you, it’s good for the community, it’s good for the Territory.”

Mr Gunner said the NT government would continue to work closely with the federal government on the rollout and would provide further information in coming days.