Aus state launches online booking for Covid vax

PERTH: The state of Western Australia (WA) will on Tuesday launch a new online booking system for Covid-19 inoculation as part of the government's efforts to ramp up the vaccine rollout, authorities said on Monday.

The system would provide online process for booking and confirming vaccination appointments at community and hospital-based vaccination clinics across the state, reports xinhua news agency.

When booking online, search results will display relevant clinics and dates based on the information entered by the user, along with the recommended vaccine and timing between doses.

The launch of the online bookings also coincides with a new cohort of eligible people, including younger adults with specified underlying medical conditions and people with disability, as part of the Phase 1B cohort, who will now have increased opportunities to be vaccinated through WA's State-run clinics.

Previously people in this category were eligible to be vaccinated through the Commonwealth's arrangements.

However, they had fewer opportunities to get vaccinated due to limited supply of Pfizer vaccine.

"Making the vaccine available for more of the Phase 1B cohort through State-run clinics will assist in getting the vaccination rate up," WA Premier Mark McGowan said.

WA Health Minister Roger Cook expected more than 300,000 Western Australians with chronic conditions or disability would get vaccinated from this week.

In addition, community clinics will soon roll out Pfizer vaccine.

Claremont Showgrounds clinic in early June will firstly offer the Pfizer vaccine to eligible people under 50 via phone or online booking.

The AstraZeneca vaccine will also be available in the clinic through pre-booked appointments from May 31.

As of Sunday, more than 361,000 vaccines had been administered in WA, which were above the national average.

"Getting your Covid vaccine when you're eligible is one of the best things you can do to keep your fellow Western Australians safe," said McGowan.

"My priority is to ensure we have as many people vaccinated as possible which is why we need more people who are already eligible to roll up for WA and get the Covid-19 vaccine."