COVID-19: What you need to know about the Pfizer vaccine in the ACT

Australians will be able to be vaccinated against COVID-19 from late February, a slight delay on earlier predictions for the middle of next month.

Here's what you need to know about the rollout in the ACT.

Canberra Hospital is expected to be the first COVID-19 vaccine site in the ACT when the national rollout begins.

Due to the nature of the Pfizer vaccine, the vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees.

Because of the cold temperatures required for storage, initial locations are expected to be around hospitals where specialised freezers are kept.

It's also expected that major hospitals in Canberra such as Calvary will also play a role in distributing the vaccine.

Nationally, there are set to be more than 1000 distribution clinics for the vaccine.

A preliminary map of potential sites suggest there will be at least three GP respiratory clinics, two initial hubs for the Pfizer vaccine as well as an Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services site.

The ACT government has also called on GP clinics in Canberra to apply to become vaccine clinics across the territory.

Calls for expressions of interest from GPs began on Friday.

It is not known yet how many Canberra clinics have applied to be a part of the scheme or if any had been approved for use.

An ACT government spokesman said the territory government was working with the Commonwealth on what the vaccine rollout would look like in Canberra once the vaccines were able to be distributed.

"We will communicate openly and in a timely way about the vaccine rollout, so Canberrans will know when they get the vaccine, how to get it and what to do when the time comes," the spokesman said.

"We will continue to keep Canberrans updated as we learn more."

The first round of people to get the vaccine in Australia once the rollout begins will be priority recipients.

Phase 1a of the vaccine rollout includes quarantine and border workers, frontline health workers, as well as staff and residents in aged-care and disability care.

At this stage, it's not known how many Canberrans are included as part of phase 1a.

It's estimated up to 1.4 million doses of the vaccine will be required for the first round of batches.

Everyone who gets the Pfizer vaccine will need two doses at least three weeks apart.

Following the first phase of the rollout to priority members of the community, others will be able to get the vaccine in a staged rollout.

The next phase of the rollout, phase 1b, will include adults 70 and older, health-care workers not included in 1a, Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people over 55, young adults with a disability or underlying medical conditions, along with critical workers in defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing.

It's expected 14.8 million doses will be distributed in that stage.

Phase 2a, with 15.8 million doses will include adults between 50 and 69, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people between 18 and 54 and other critical high risk workers.

Phase 2b will include the balance of the adult population and those catching up from previous phases.

It's estimated 80,000 Australians will receive the vaccine each week.

However, projections of as many as 4 million people getting the jab by the end of March now may be unlikely due to manufacturing delays.

That target is now expected to be met by early April.

Australian Medical Association ACT president Antonio Di Dio said earlier this month the ACT was preparing as well as any other jurisdiction for the rollout of the vaccine.

For faster access to the latest Canberra news, download The Canberra Times app for iOS and Android.