New Canberra COVID-19 vaccination clinic to open next week

The ACT government will open a new vaccination clinic next week after the federal government confirmed supply projections for the rest of the year.

The territory will receive 10,530 Pfizer doses each week in July. It will be an increase of more than 3500 doses each week compared to the 7000 to be received next week.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said those figures were expected to increase as more becomes available, and the rollout would "hit its peak" from October.

"The supply of Pfizer and potentially Moderna coming into the mix in quarter four this year means there will be a big ramp-up in the next few months," Mr Barr said.

"The Commonwealth stated, and we'll continue to hold them to this, that everyone who wants one should get access to a first dose in 2021."

Based on July projections, 126,360 Canberrans could be fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine by the end of the year.

That does not include people getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Vaccine supply is expected to increase in the coming months but issues with obtaining enough doses of the Pfizer vaccine have plagued the rollout.

More pressure has been placed on Pfizer supply since the decision to recommend the AstraZeneca vaccine to people over 60.

The Chief Minister wouldn't commit to a timeline to expand vaccine eligibility to under 40s.

The new Pfizer hub at the Canberra Airport precinct will offer 1500 doses each week for the first three weeks before that number is ramped up to 3000 per week.

People aged 50 to 59 could book in for a Pfizer jab at the new clinic, due to open on June 29, and the Garran vaccine clinic from Monday afternoon.

ACT Health took almost 1000 calls on Monday from residents looking to book in for the jab.

The clinic at 30 Nomad Drive, Pialligo will operate seven days a week.

"You may not be in a position to receive your vaccine immediately, but we are encouraging ACT residents who are eligible to plan ahead now and to make their appointment," Mr Barr said.

"The signs are encouraging, the supply chains are building up and there's going to be multiple vaccines available."

The ACT government was forced to delay opening the new vaccine clinic after underwhelming discussions with the Commonwealth about future vaccine supply.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith had raised concerns with her federal counterpart that the ACT couldn't keep up with demand for first and second doses of Pfizer.

"We needed to be able to maintain [those] first-dose appointments while also being able to get people to come back and have their second dose," she said.

"We didn't want to see that yo-yoing of first and second doses.

"We clearly have that demand for the extra supply."

The AstraZeneca vaccine is available for people over 60 at the Calvary hospital clinic in Bruce and several general practices.

About 2700 residents aged 50 to 59 who had booked in for an AstraZeneca vaccine can now have their appointments rescheduled.

Anyone who has contacted the booking phone line since the advice around the AstraZeneca vaccine was changed will be contacted by ACT Health.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is available for people over 60 at the Calvary hospital clinic.

"We've seen people are continuing to come and get the AstraZeneca vaccine," Ms Stephen-Smith said.

"I really want to acknowledge that Canberrans have embraced the COVID-19 vaccination program and we haven't seen a lot of hesitancy here."

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