The day Canberrans under 30 have been waiting for has inched closer, with registrations for the COVID-19 vaccine opening to people aged 16 to 29.
However, the ACT Chief Minister says young people could be protected faster if they opt for AstraZeneca, which is widely available right now.
Canberrans aged 16 to 29 will be eligible for Pfizer when the criteria expands nationally on August 30.
In preparation, the ACT government has opened expressions of interest for an appointment at a government-run mass vaccine hub.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said about 64,000 people within that age group have not been vaccinated yet, while a further 21,000 have had the jab, either with AstraZeneca or as a priority group in the Pfizer rollout.
"Opening the registration process will enable more people to be in the system when the time comes to book an appointment," Mr Barr said.
Appointments will open when Pfizer supply increases, and Mr Barr said he expected people would be able to start making bookings from September.
However, Mr Barr said given the growing outbreak in the ACT and the slow supply of Pfizer, young people could be fully vaccinated faster with AstraZeneca.
"I think most people would still be better choosing AstraZeneca today based on our current projection of Pfizer supplies," he said.
"The best vaccine is the one you can get today, and it does give you first-dose protection."
Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for people under 60 years old due to the small risk of a rare, but serious, blood-clotting syndrome associated with AstraZeneca.
There has been an increase since lockdown began of young people getting the AstraZeneca vaccine at scores of general practices and pharmacies, after first providing informed consent.
The Moderna vaccine will also join the ranks in September, with the first doses to be provided to pharmacies. Two doses of the mRNA vaccine are required, 28 days apart.
The Chief Minister encouraged people in the soon-to-be eligible cohort to register with the ACT government's Digital Health Record (MyDHR) system.
"It means that as appointments become available, we can move [bookings] forward, we can contact you," he said.
"There are vaccines available today, but it's also important that people are registered into the system as well because it will be a combination of AstraZeneca, Pfizer and presumably Moderna as well that will cover this age group."
Work is under way to open another mass vaccination hub at the Australian Institute of Sport in Bruce, and Mr Barr said this would help accelerate the rollout for younger Canberrans.
The registration process was also opened for people aged in their 30s in July, with the intention to make the process of booking those residents in easier when supply was available.
Registrations are made on the My Digital Health Record website using a Medicare card, however people can't sign up online if they haven't used an ACT health service before.
Those people who don't have a Medicare card, or haven't used one to access an ACT health service, will need to call the COVID-19 vaccination line on (02) 5124 7700 (7am to 7pm daily).
