Accelerated vaccination program

The ACT Government will accelerate the COVID-19 vaccination program through expanded capacity at the AIS Arena and the reopening the Canberra Airport vaccination hub.

The airport hub and the AIS Arena mass vaccination clinic will be able to deliver up to 32,500 vaccinations a week – up from the 29,500 vaccinations the ACT Government delivered at the height of its vaccination program in September last year.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said vaccination remains the best way to reduce COVID-19 transmission and disease.

“We strongly encourage all Canberrans to get their boosters when they’re eligible. And if you’re a parent or carer of a child aged 5 to 11, book them in for their first dose,” Chief Minister Barr said.

“To make this easier and faster, we’re temporarily re-opening the Canberra Airport vaccination hub at 30 Nomad Drive, Pialligo, from 24 January to help deliver more boosters, more quickly.

“We’re making more vaccination appointments available to Canberrans than ever before.

“The ACT Government’s public health objectives remain the same – to reduce community transmission, minimise pressure on our hospitals and protect those most vulnerable.”

Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the extra vaccination capacity is important given the changes to booster timeframes.

“The reduction in the interval between second dose and booster from 5 months to 4 months means almost 75,000 additional Canberrans are now eligible for their boosters.

“This number will increase even more when the interval is further reduced to three months on 31 January,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.

“Nearly 59,000 ACT residents aged 18 years or over have already received a third shot or booster and we have around 20,000 booster bookings at our ACT Government clinics and 9,700 bookings for 5 to 11 year-olds.

“While this is a good start, we urge all Canberrans who are eligible for a booster to make a booking now.”

/Public Release. View in full here.