How you could get your Covid jab in the OFFICE by September in a push to increase Australia's low vaccination rate

Australians working for big companies may be able to get a Covid-19 vaccine at work after September.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is meeting business leaders at 10am to discuss how they can help boost the nation's sluggish rollout with only nine per cent of adults double jabbed.

Several corporations such as Commonwealth Bank already offer employees the flu vaccine at work and are keen to offer Covid jabs once more supply enters Australia.

A nurse administers the Pfizer vaccine to a client at the St Vincent's Covid-19 vaccination clinic on July 1, 2021 in Sydney

Mr Frydenberg told ABC radio: 'Because these businesses have experience in delivering the flu vaccination, these businesses have real resources at their disposal, be it premises, logistics, community engagement strategies, the broader communication strategy. 

'They will be really willing and able partners for the Federal Government, as they have been from day one of this pandemic.'

On Tuesday, Lieutenant General John Frewen, head of the Covid-19 taskforce, said workplaces could offer jabs from September. 

'Around September and October, when we have greater access to the vaccine that's when workplace vaccination can open up,' he told reporters.

Which companies could offer Covid-19 vaccines at work? 

These are the companies meeting with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Wednesday:

Coles Group 

Woolworths Group

Wesfarmers  

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Westpac Group

NAB 

ANZ Bank  

Virgin 

Qantas  

Telstra 

Optus 

Ernst and Young 

Deloitte 

PWC 

KPMG 

Melbourne Airport  

 

'It takes burden off both the primary healthcare system and some of the state mechanisms.

'Many of these industries already do anti-flu vaccinations.'   

Meanwhile, Australians under 40 are expected to be offered Pfizer vaccines from September when more supply arrives from overseas.

Mr Frewen said young people will be able to chose which jab they get later this year.

Currently, Aussies under 40 can only get the abundant AstraZeneca vaccine via their GPs because the government is prioritising scare Pfizer jabs for people aged 40 to 60. 

Australians under 40 are expected to be offered Pfizer vaccines from September when more supply arrives from overseas. Pictured: Vaccine queues in Sydney on Thursday

'I think when we get to September and October, if we've got the amounts of supply that we are forecast to have at those stages, that's around about the time we may be able to look at bringing more choice into the program,' Mr Frewen said.

'But we can't put a hard time on that just yet.  

'Because of supply issues, we're prioritising Pfizer for certain age groups.

'For those below 40, if they wish to take up AstraZeneca now, they can under informed consent. 

'When we have supplies of both we offer choice to individuals,' he added. 

Australia expects to receive up to 750,000 Pfizer doses a week in July and August, up to 1.3million in September and up to 2.3million from October. 

The country is also due to receive up to 125,000 Moderna doses per week in September and up to 615,000 after that. 

Almost 8,000 under 40s have received their first AstraZeneca dose since Prime Minister Scott Morrison highlighted it as an option last week.

AstraZeneca, which is only recommended for Australians over 60 because of extremely rare but serious blood clots, has a 12-week gap between doses, while Pfizer has a three-week space. 

Lieutenant General John Frewen speaks alongside Colonel Spencer Norris during a zoom meeting with state premiers and chief ministers at Scarborough House on July 6 in Canberra

State and federal health officials met on Tuesday to discuss potential problems with the rollout, including possible staff shortages.

Some officials are concerned there may not be enough workers available to roll out vaccines quickly and easily when tens of millions of Pfizer and Moderna doses arrive later this year.

They are considering options including drafting in trainee paramedics or final year medical students.

'We're looking for every opportunity we can to accelerate the rollout,' Mr Frewen said.

Mobile mass vaccination hubs will also be considered.

Jane Halton, who chairs the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, said Australia needed to be prepared for glitches in vaccine delivery.

'This is not something that you can just stick on general practice across the country and then get that huge number of people through,' she told ABC radio.

'The federal government is starting to sit in a really co-operative way, not just with the states, but working with industry, who are really desperate to help their workforces get vaccinated as well.'

Expected doses per week of each vaccine arriving in Australia

July-August 2021

AstraZeneca ~ 2.2m – 2.6m

Pfizer ~ 650k – 750k

Moderna ~ 0 

September 2021

AstraZeneca ~ 880k – 1.2m

Pfizer ~ 930k – 1.3m

Moderna ~ 87k – 125k 

 Oct-Dec 2021

AstraZeneca Subject to request

Pfizer ~ 1.7m – 2.3m

Moderna ~ 430k – 615k 

Source: Department of Health