Pfizer vaccines are set to be distributed in the NT next week under a mass vaccination plan assisted by the Federal Government - however Katherine residents have been left in limbo with no decisions made on how they will be included.
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NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner revealed plans for phase 1A of the vaccine rollout on Monday morning.
No announcement has been made on how the first stage will be rolled out to eligible people in Katherine, such as aged care and disability care workers, residents, and Emergency Department personnel at Katherine Hospital.
Nearly 5000 people will receive the first set of jabs.
NT residents who will be vaccinated under Phase 1A are:
- Quarantine workers and border control workers - including police and airport arrival workers
- Hospital and health care workers in high-risk environments
- Aged care residents and staff
- Disability care residents and staff
NT Health will coordinate the vaccine rollout to 3000 quarantine workers, border control workers and high-risk health care workers.
High-risk health care workers include staff working in emergency departments, respiratory wards and clinics, and intensive care units across the NT, as well as ambulance workers, Careflight and Royal Flying Doctor Service staff, and staff in COVID-19 testing clinics.
An NT Health spokeswoman said the department has not decided how the vaccine will be rolled out to people in Katherine who work in these roles.
She said more information will be released in the coming days.
The Federal Government will provide vaccines for aged care and disability care residents and staff, which is expected to be more than 1500 people across the NT.
The vaccine these people will received is the Pfizer vaccine, which must be stored and transported at below -70 degrees, making distribution to regional and remote regions a challenge.
The vaccine requires two separate doses, administered 21 days apart.
In order to keep the vaccines cold the initial rollout will be based in hospitals, with the first vaccine hub being established at Royal Darwin Hospital.
The NT Government said it is also working to establish a second vaccine hub at Alice Springs Hospital in the coming weeks.
Australian Medical Association NT president Robert Parker has previously said Katherine Hospital has the facilities to be used as a hub.
In a statement, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the vaccine rollout is "starting small" and most NT residents will be eligible at a later stage.
"Most Territorians will receive their vaccine in the second half of the year," he said.
"Don't worry if you're not one of the first, it just means you have a lower risk, and that's a good thing.
"There will be enough vaccinations available for everyone."
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