Sunshine Coast University Hospital will be one of six vaccine hubs in Queensland for round one of the COVID rollout starting in February.
The first phase due to start mid-month will vaccinate high-priority workers and vulnerable people such as those in aged care with the highly effective Pfizer vaccine.
The Pfizer drug, which has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, requires storage temperatures of minus 70 degrees Celsius and comes in bulk packs.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said using a major hospital as SCUH as a base would help manage the Pfizer vaccine’s complex logistics.
The other Queensland hospitals will be the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital, and Gold Coast University Hospital, Cairns Hospital and Townsville Hospital.
“(The Pfizer vaccine) has strict limitations on its storage, transport and distribution which makes it unsuitable for how we would normally rollout a widespread vaccination campaign,” she said.
“We have chosen our state’s largest hospitals, from the top and tail of our state.
“Queensland will begin this process as soon as we receive the first Pfizer vaccines from the Federal Government.
“Every day is a step forward in our recovery from this pandemic, but this is a particularly exciting milestone for us all.”
Priority Group 1a would be the first to receive the Pfizer vaccination which includes quarantine and border workers, frontline (COVID) health workers, aged care and disability care staff and aged care and disability care residents.
“When it’s appropriate for you to get a vaccine, I urge you all to do so,” Dr Young said.
“Queensland has fared so well during this pandemic because of the public’s responsiveness. I thank you all.
“We are ensuring we first protect the people who need it most. These are the people who are most at risk of exposure and severe disease.”
The majority of the rest of Australians are to be vaccinated in later phases with the AstraZeneca vaccine which can be transported and stored more easily and can therefore be distributed to smaller towns and GPs.
However the AstraZeneca vaccine’s efficacy has come under continual question, especially for inoculating people over the age of 65.
To stay up to date with the latest COVID-19 vaccination information for Queensland, visit http://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccine
