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VICTORIANS should feel confident the new COVID-19 vaccine is safe, authorities say.
The vaccine roll-out began in the state on Monday, with Monash Health medical director Rhonda Stuart the first Victorian to receive the Pfizer vaccine.
Senior medical adviser for the COVID-19 vaccination program, Professor Ben Cowie, said it was an historic day for Victoria and Australia.
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"These vaccines are safe, they're effective, and they're free," Professor Cowie said. "All eligible Victorians will be able to have the vaccine over the course of this year.
"When we say these vaccines are safe, we say they have been tested initially in clinical trials, which involve tens of thousands of individuals, and have subsequently been administered to tens of millions of people worldwide.
"They are very safe and have been through a rigorous approval process."
Victorians with the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19 are being prioritised for the vaccine, including hotel quarantine workers, airport and port workers, and frontline health staff.
Bendigo will be home to a Pfizer vaccination hub. The region's aged care residents will be among thousands vaccinated in the next couple of weeks.
The vaccine roll-out came as the state recorded zero new COVID-19 cases for the third consecutive day.
Health Minister Martin Foley said there were 25 active coronavirus cases in the state, with one of those people receiving treatment in hospital.
Mr Foley said the authorities were also following up two indeterminate COVID-19 test results from hotel quarantine workers as a precaution.
Earlier
VICTORIA recorded no new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to midnight on Sunday.
It is the third day in a row of no new infections.
There are 25 active cases in the state right now.
A total of 8277 people were tested for the virus on Sunday.
No-one died from coronavirus related complications or illnesses.
It comes as Australia's COVID-19 vaccines begin rolling out.
They began on Sunday with an aged care resident, whose vaccination was broadcast live on television.
Prime minister Scott Morrison also took his coronavirus shot on Sunday.
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