Victoria has set a target of one million jabs in one million arms in the next five weeks.
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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said this morning there had been an overwhelming response from young Victorians since last weekend when they were invited to come forward for the AstraZeneca jab.
"That means that AstraZeneca will be available to everybody over 18 at all of our state hubs, all 50 of them. We will expand our drive- through locations," Mr Andrews said.
"It is the most important thing, to come forward and to get vaccinated.
"For your family and every family, get vaccinated, come forward, book a jab.
"We aim over the next five weeks to get a million jabs into a million arms of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca. We aim to be, at the end of September, at that 60 per cent mark or beyond.
"The quicker we can get to 70 per cent, the quicker we get to 80 per cent, and we are out of that lockdown world.
"I think we will meet that target... and I think we may see more."
Mr Andrews said talk of hesitancy around people wanting to come forward for vaccination was "just talk", and he believed Victorians had demonstrated a willingness to get the jab.
In the past 24 hours alone, 94,000 Victorians had booked appointments.
"I am confident that Victorians will continue to come forward strongly," he said.
Chief health officer Brett Sutton said Victorians of all ages needed to step up, and thanked all those involved in the vaccination of more than two million Victorians.
More and more GPs, as well as pharmacies, would be coming online to join the vaccine rollout.
The response since last Sunday from those aged 18 and over had been "very, very strong", the Premier said, with more than 10,000 coming forward.
"That sends a message to us, there is very strong demand," he said.
EARLIER: Victoria recorded 15 new community cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to midnight Thursday.
The Department of Health and Human Services said there were no new cases acquired overseas.
"Of the 15 new locally-acquired cases, 11 have been linked to current outbreaks and four have sources of infection still under investigation," the department said.
"Eight have been in quarantine throughout their infectious periods."
There were 27,427 vaccine doses administered and 40,737 test results received.
Border permits will start being enforced at 6pm Friday after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced their introduction on Wednesday.
Police are toughening their approach to NSW residents leaving coronavirus hotspots.
Border doctor Niranjan Sarjapuram, who had three Sydneysiders walk in to his Lavington vaccination clinic seeking a shot, has also had a Newcastle woman insisting she could travel to the Border for her COVID jab.
The centre in the former Wodonga Coles supermarket is open to 4pm weekdays, prompting concerns it is hard to access for those at work.
People with a disability, or people living with or caring for a person with a disability aged 16 years and above, are eligible to receive the vaccination at on Townsend Street.
MORE COVID NEWS:
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- Health service on extending opening hours for Wodonga vaccine hub
- Doctor tells of Sydneysiders who sought vaccine shots in Lavington
- Police issue more COVID-19 fines over CSU party and mask-less shop staff
- Pop-up Pfizer clinic coming to support community's most vulnerable
Meanwhile, the ACT has woken up to lockdown, joining NSW, Melbourne, Newcastle, Wollongong and many towns in regional NSW.
But despite the virus continuing to leak into the regions, the NSW government has ruled out a statewide lockdown for the time being.
However, additional military troops are likely to be called in and may be used to help administer AstraZeneca vaccines.
Health officials are "very concerned" about the potential spread among vulnerable communities in NSW, with the majority of new cases in Dubbo and Walgett diagnosed in Aboriginal people.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday confirmed an additional 7680 Pfizer vaccine doses would be provided for the affected areas.
IN OTHER NEWS:
- additional reporting KIM CHAPPELL
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