Capacity Boost As Vaccine Centres Prepare For More Supply

Victoria’s state-run vaccination centres are being supercharged, allowing us to deliver more vaccines into the arms of Victorians as soon as more supply is provided by the Commonwealth.  

Victorians are coming out in force to protect themselves and their communities, with more than 650,000 vaccines administered since we announced our plan to vaccinate 1 million Victorians in five weeks, through state run centres alone.

This brings our total number of Victorians vaccinated to over 5.3 million – including more than 2.6 million through state run centres. We have also delivered more than 700,000 AstraZeneca doses through our state centres alone, the highest number in Australia.

To get more Victorians vaccinated faster, we’re expanding our state-run clinics to deliver more vaccines each week. In the past week, we have increased our state capacity by 25,000 each week – meaning 260,000 doses in arms across state sites each week, and we are expanding capacity for another 40,000 per week very soon.

Twenty-five additional cubicles have been added at Melbourne Town Hall, Port Melbourne Town Hall and at the Eagle Stadium Drive Through. A new vaccination centre will also be established at La Trobe University at Bundoora.

More cubicles at Sandown Racecourse, Wyndham and Eagle Stadium Drive will produce a capacity increase of 50 per cent at each site, while additional cubicles at Melton Drive Through Clinic will double its capacity. Opening hours across sites will also be extended.

More pop-up sites will be established to ensure all Victorian VCE students are vaccinated, and additional sites have also been established at the Altona Badminton Centre and Australian Islamic Centre in Newport.

The Victorian Government continues to make it easier for Victorians to get vaccinated as soon as possible, with 60 open access state-run centres operating across Victoria and additional sites coming online every week.

Victoria has pioneered targeted and culturally-appropriate vaccination pop-up centres, delivered in partnership with communities – including pop-ups at a Hindu temple in Mill Park, a Greek Orthodox Church in Thornbury and a mosque in Newport. This successful model will continue to expand as supply increases.

It’s important to remember Victorians can also get vaccinated at their local GP or selected pharmacists across the state. If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and your health, the best person to speak to is your doctor or pharmacist.    

Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres for more information on Victoria’s vaccination centres, including locations and opening hours.

Quote attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“We’ve delivered more than 650,000 doses towards our 1 million doses target which is a mammoth effort but please, if you haven’t had your vaccination yet, just book it in to protect yourself and your loved ones.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Health Martin Foley

“Getting vaccinated is our way out of this pandemic. These new sites will mean as soon additional supply is delivered by the Commonwealth, we’ll be able to get it into Victorian arms – helping us reach our goal as soon as possible.”