Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bragg for the question. Rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most significant public health campaigns we have had to conduct this century, and this government is on track to deliver that program. In fact, Minister Hunt has announced this afternoon that the Pfizer vaccinations have just touched down in Sydney, which is a significant milestone for this country. The Australian government aims to have as many people vaccinated as soon as possible. Identified priority groups will be the first to get the available doses of vaccines, and more and more people will progressively have access to a vaccine as more doses become available.

Our world-class vaccination program is on track to deliver as planned and begin rollout this month. It will commence with identified priority populations including aged-care and disability residents, frontline healthcare workers, and quarantine and border workers. They will receive the vaccine first up as part of phase 1A. Phase 1B will include adults aged 70 years and over; other healthcare workers; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55; younger adults with an underlying medical condition, including those with a disability; critical high-risk workers including defence, fire, police and emergency services; and meat-processing workers. All these groups have been identified as critical to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. Phase 2A includes adults aged 50 to 69 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 18 to 54 years and other critical high-risk workers.