This week, it was revealed that fully vaccinated Sydneysiders will soon be allowed more freedoms in lockdown—like going to restaurants, bars, and gyms.
Today, NSW hit its August target of six million jabs, with 60% of the state's population now partially vaccinated, and 30% fully vaccinated. If you're keen to get your jab sorted ASAP but haven't started the process, we're here to help.
Messaging around COVID-19 vaccinations hasn't exactly been clear in Australia. But beyond all the noise out there—one thing is clear. Vaccination is Sydney’s way out of lockdown and it is the best way to prevent future lockdowns as we continue to navigate this pandemic. Vaccines do provide protection against infectious diseases and, by getting vaccinated, you are arming yourself against the most serious effects of COVID-19, as well as protecting those close to you and the wider community.
The good news is, yes, most people are able to get vaccinated in Sydney right now. There's quite a bit of information floating around, and it can be pretty overwhelming to navigate.
Here, we break down how to get your vaccination in Sydney and NSW.
How Can I Get My COVID-19 Vaccine In NSW?
To find out where you can get a COVID-19 vaccination near you and to book your vaccination:
- Go to the vaccine eligibility checker and click "check my eligibility"
- Go through the questionnaire and enter all the relevant information
Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, if you are eligible to book, you’ll be able to view and select clinic or pharmacy locations based on the location you enter. If you're not eligible, you will be instructed to try and book at another time.
We recommend contacting your GP to discuss your options as they will be able to best guide you towards which vaccination will suit you, and where you can get it.
The "Covid Queue" Pfizer Vaccination Booking Tool
Created by Sydney-based web developer Fraser Hemphill, Covid Queue is a super simple tool to help you book your Pfizer vaccination.
Basically, Covid Queue pools together appointments from Sydney's main vaccination hubs, with a bell sounding when appointments become available. Click on the appointment time that suits you, and you'll be redirected to the relevant vaccination hub's booking page. You'll just need to be eligible for Pfizer (check here).
Which Vaccines Are Available In NSW?
As has been widely reported, Australians currently have access to the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. From September, Australians over the age of 18 will also have access to the Moderna vaccine.
For more information on these vaccines, head over to the Australian Government Department of Health website links here:
Vaccinations are free in Australia, even if you don’t have a Medicare card or are not eligible for Medicare.
According to the TGA and tens of thousands of trials conducted across the world, the Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna vaccines are effective in:
- Preventing the development of COVID-19 symptoms
- Protecting against severe symptoms of the disease
Who Is Eligible For The Pfizer Vaccine In NSW?
From Monday 30 August, Pfizer will be made available to everyone aged 16 - 39.
For now, according to the Australian Government Department of Health, the following people are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine:
- People aged 40 years and older
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 16 and over
- NDIS participants aged 16 years and over, and unpaid and informal carers of NDIS participants of any age
- Pregnant women, regardless of age
- Temporary visa holders aged under 50 years who are currently in Australia and have been approved for return travel to Australia through the travel exemption process
- Quarantine or border workers
- Health care workers
- Aged care or disability care residents or workers
- People aged 16 and over with an underlying medical condition or significant disability
- Critical or high risk workers aged 16 and over including defence, police, fire, emergency services, and meat processing
- People with an Australian Border Force outwards travel exemption in an eligible category
Still not sure? Try the Government's vaccine eligibility checker.
Read more here.
Who Is Eligible For The AstraZeneca Vaccine In NSW?
According to the Australian Government Department of Health website, if you are aged 18 - 59 years of age, you can choose to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine now, provided you:
- Follow an appropriate assessment of suitability by your doctor; and
- Provide verbal or written consent
What Happens After I Get My COVID-19 Vaccine?
Even after you are vaccinated, it’s important to follow public health orders currently in play in Sydney and NSW.
To continue to protect yourself and others, you still need to:
- Practise good hygiene
- Practise physical distancing
- Follow public health orders, including stay-at-home orders
- Get tested if you present COVID-19 symptoms—find a clinic here
- Understand how to isolate yourself at home if you are required to
Keep in mind the vaccine rollout is evolving in Australia, with additional vaccines being made available, and vaccinations becoming more available to various age groups as time goes on. Keep up to date on the NSW Health website here.
Image credit: Eriksson Luo