A Wodonga GP clinic has been approved to administer the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination.
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Elmwood Medical Centre will begin giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to the general public as part of phase 1b of the national rollout.
After a lengthy application process to the federal health department, the family-run, bulk-billing clinic finally got the green light this week.
And for owners Gaurav and Neetu Grover, communication and education is their priority in setting up the COVID clinic which will run alongside the GP clinic.
"We have a separate designated area within our clinic which will be converted to a vaccination unit where we anticipate we will cater for a large volume of patients requiring the vaccination," Mr Grover said.
"There will also be a separate entry for the clinic as well so not to disrupt the patients and doctors in the GP clinic.
"It is really important to us to inform the community that the vaccine will be available here in Wodonga at a trusted local clinic.
"But we always encourage those to get information from a GP prior to receiving the vaccine to ensure they are eligible and they are fully informed before consenting."
Those first in line could receive their jabs as early as March 22 and include those over the age of 80, health care workers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 55.
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Emergency services workers, including police, fire and defence also fall into this phase, as do meat processing workers. The clinic is in the process of recruiting extra nursing and administration staff to assist with the roll-out of the vaccines.
Four new GPs will start at the clinic in the next few months, bringing their total to 10 GPs who will work on a rostered basis at both the family medical clinic and the vaccination clinic.
An extra vaccination fridge has also been ordered to store the vaccines.
While there isn't a set date as to when the vaccines will arrive, Mr Grover said they are expected to begin administration on March 22.
They are already taking appointments for eligible patients.
All staff are completing the necessary COVID-19 vaccination modules and will be educated prior to the clinic opening.
All patients need to sign a consent form before being given the first dose of the vaccine. Admin staff will then book the patient for the second dose of the vaccine between four and 12 weeks later.
Murray Primary Health Network couldn't confirm if any other clinics in the area were successful and will also be delivering the vaccines, but said those who applied had been given letters of approval or denial this week.
