THE exact date of most Australians COVID-19 vaccination remains uncertain, as the immunisation rollout begins.
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But the federal government has said it aims to complete the program nationwide by October.
Bendigo's first COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesday marked a milestone moment in the fight against the pandemic.
Aged care residents were the first Bendigo residents to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, delivered on Tuesday at some homes.
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It's the first step in the rollout of the coronavirus immunisations to millions of Australians. Here are some common questions answered.
When will I be vaccinated?
It depends on a few things. How old you are, what work you do, and whether you have an underlying medical condition, or are Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander.
The vaccine rollout will take place in several phases, the exact start and end dates of which are yet to be confirmed.
The government is aiming for the rollout to be completed nationwide by October.
First steps
Vaccinations have begun with aged care residents, the group with the highest death toll in Australia from the pandemic.
Along with aged care staff, quarantine and border workers and some frontline healthcare workers, aged care residents make up the groups in phase 1a of vaccine delivery. Vaccinations have begun in this category nationwide.
The health workers set to be vaccinated during this phase, include frontline staff in places such as emergency departments, respiraory wards, intensive care units and high-dependency units.
Laboratory staff handling potentially infectious material, paramedics, GP respiratory clinics and those at COVID-19 testing facilities are also set to get their shots.
Second steps
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Wednesday he expected phase 1b to begin within six weeks.
All other healthcare workers will be vaccinated during this second phase, along with those aged over 70, Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island people over 55, adults with an underlying medical condition.
"Critical and high risk workers" will also be vaccinated, including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing.
Later phases
Next in line, during phase 2a, will be adults between 50 and 69 years, Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people aged 18-54 and other critical and high risk workers.
During phase 2b, the balance of the adult population and any unvaccinated Australians will receive their dose.
Those under 18 may be vaccinated in a third phase, if health authorities recommend the vaccines as appropriate for those age groups.
Where will I be vaccinated?
Again, it depends. This time on your priority level and where you live.
Regional residents are could receive their vaccine from their GP clinic, or pharmacist, or a state vaccination clinic.
Federal Regional Health Minister Mark Coulton has confirmed vaccination sites will include these, as well as a rural, regional and remote Respiratory Clinics, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Health organisations.
Federal Pfizer hubs are being set up across Australia to administer vaccination for frontline healthcare workers, quarantine and border staff, and residential aged care and disability residents and staff.
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These groups all fall in phase 1a and 1b of vaccine distribution.
Bendigo Health has confirmed it will be operating a vaccination hub, aligned with the federal delivery of the Pfizer vaccine. It's not yet clear when the Bendigo hub will begin to deliver vaccinations.
Dozens Bendigo aged care residents have already been vaccinated in their facility, by specially trained teams.
Which vaccine will I receive? Will I have to pay?
Both the Pfizer and the AstraZeneca vaccinations have been approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Initial hubs rolling out the vaccine to priority populations have been designed to store and administer the Pfizer vaccination.
This vaccination must be stored at minus 60 degrees Celsius, before being kept at between two to eight degrees for the five days before use.
In contrast, the AstraZeneca vaccine only needs to be stored at temperatures between two and eight degrees.
Initial supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be imported into Australia overseas, before tens of millions of doses are manufactured locally.
TGA boss John Skerritt said the AstraZeneca vaccine could be delivered through GPs and potentially pharmacies across Australia.
Vaccination will be free to all Australians.
I'm pregnant, do I get the shot?
Vaccination for pregnant women with the Pfizer vaccine is not being recommended routinely by the Department of Health.
But the Department has said those with high risk factors for severe COVID-19 or at high risk of exposure should consider getting vaccinated, in consultation with their health provider.
Anyone planning on becoming pregnant does not need to avoid the vaccine, nor do those breastfeeding, the department advice states.
The Department did not yet have updated advice for pregnant women since the approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine on February 24.
Those with questions have been urged to ask their immunisation provider, doctor or midwife.
Will my children be vaccinated?
It's still unclear. Federal government advice states those aged under 16 may be vaccinated in a third phase, depending on recommendations for the individual vaccines.
With AAP.
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