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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 55 and older can register for a COVID-19 vaccination

26 March 2021
COVID-19
A mature man sits in a chair while a woman in black works on his upper arm.

Phase 1B of the COVID-19 National Vaccine rollout has started.

As of this week, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 or older are eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccine.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP attended Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Service ACT to receive his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Linda Burney, MP and Professor Tom Calma joined him, also receiving their first vaccinations, along with other senior Ngunnawal Elders.

“Vaccines are an important tool in our strategy and I urge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to come forward and get vaccinated when they are able to. It will help protect themselves, their family and their community,” Minister Wyatt said.

There are 32 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services around the country that will begin providing COVID-19 vaccinations this week. The number of participating services and delivery sites will increase each week; building to around 100 services for more than 200 sites in remote, rural and urban communities. People can also get their vaccination from general practices and commonwealth vaccination clinics (previously known as GP-led respiratory clinics). Pharmacies will begin vaccinations later in the rollout.

“Our people have a higher risk of getting and developing serious outcomes from communicable diseases due to a number of factors including having a high rate of underlying chronic health conditions and in some cases crowded-living conditions, which increases the risk of transmission,” Minister Wyatt said.

“It’s normal to have questions or concerns, and possibly feel hesitant about getting a vaccine. I encourage all of you to listen to your local community controlled health organisation as a trusted source” he added.

As at 22 June 2021, Minister Wyatt, the Hon. Linda Burney and Professor Tom Calma have all received their second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at Winnunga Nimmityjah AHCS. It is important that everyone who gets their COVID-19 vaccine gets the full two-dose course to get the best immunity.

Find out more

Find out more at the Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about COVID-19 vaccines.

To see when you are eligible and find your local service to make an appointment, you can use the eligibility checker at Vaccine Eligibility Checker or you can also contact your health service or general practitioner directly.