AP: Jeff J Mitchell, file
)More than 6 million Australians will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine from today, as 1,000 GP clinics start vaccinations for certain priority groups.
Phase 1B includes those aged over 70, critical workers like police and people with some underlying medical conditions.
The federal government has faced criticism for ongoing delays with the vaccine rollout on the back of international supply challenges.
But late on Sunday, the national medical regulator approved domestic production of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
While each batch still needs to be examined by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Health Minister Greg Hunt said the first doses from the CSL facility in Melbourne would be released within days.
"This is a fundamental decision which locks in for Australia access to 50 million units of domestically produced vaccines," he told the ABC.
"It means the manufacturing process for CSL has been approved, it's safe, it's effective, it meets all of the requirements from one of the toughest regulators in the world."
Australian Medical Association President Omar Khorshid said the entire rollout hinged on local manufacturing of the vaccine.
"The rollout cannot continue without our local production, we heard last week they don't expect any more AstraZeneca to come from overseas, so really it's critical our local production comes online as quickly as possible," he said.
However, Dr Khorshid said many GPs across the country remain frustrated, with some clinics receiving as few as 40 doses to administer this week.
"The good news is there are more practices coming online every week, up to four and a half thousand by the fourth week, and that will make appointments much more available for those really in a hurry to get their vaccine."
Clinics get ready for Phase 1B
In the far north-west of Victoria, GPs and nurses at Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) in Mildura are preparing to join one of the biggest logistical exercises Australia has ever seen.
After receiving 160 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine just yesterday, MDAS CEO Jacki Turfrey said the service would today vaccinate 10 people.
"It's a bit of a relief to tell you the truth and our view is the more people we are able to get vaccinated, the sooner any of us are going to be able to return to any semblance of normality around our day-to-day lives," she said.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 and over are part of Phase 1B, and Ms Turfrey said it was particularly crucial they received the jab.
"Because people across the country represent some of our highest numbers of vulnerable people in the community for chronic health disease, for chronic disease around health disorders, it's critical for our community to get vaccinated for as many people as we can so we can minimise the risk," she said.
The government expects more than 4,000 GP clinics will be able to administer the vaccines by the end of April, while all Australians will get their first dose of the jab by October.
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