New Pfizer clinic

By Tony Scott,
August 18, 2021

A private general practice clinic for Covid 19 vaccinations is to be held in Scottsdale on Tuesday August 31.

The clinic, to be operated by Ochre Health, will be offering the Pfizer vaccine and follows booked out State Government clinics in July giving the same strain.

To ensure there’s no disruption to Ochre’s normal health centre’s operation, the clinic will be held off-site at the Nugget Sellers pavilion at the Scottdale recreation ground.

The GP centre has been offering regular clinics for the AstraZeneca vaccine strain over the past few months.

After initially being omitted from pharmacies in Tasmania allowed to provide Covid jabs, Scottsdale’s Galloway’s Pharmacy was included in those offering AstraZeneca for over 60-year-olds from this week.

Pharmacist in charge Bonnie Kelly said she expected to offer vaccinations to eligible people one day a week, probably Wednesdays.

“It will be better if people book in, so we don’t have too many people in the store and they don’t come in only to be disappointed.

“We’ll try to make sure we have groups of 10 for each day.

“The vials hold enough for 10 doses.

“They only last 48 hours after opening and we don’t want to waste them,” she said.

The Pfizer clinic at Nugget Sellers pavilion has room for up to 240 recipients, with about 30 still available early this week.

However, unlike advice that any Tasmanians between 39 and 60 years old are welcome to attend State-run Pfizer clinics, Ochre is abiding by national guidelines that they have to be between 49 and 60.

Those under 49 who have underlying health issues or deal with vulnerable people might still be eligible for the jab. 

People can check eligibility and make bookings on the website, 

www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-vaccine-eligibility-checker

No date or venue has been decided for the follow-up clinic, though the manufacturer’s advice is they should be administered between three and eight weeks of the first.