Before your vaccination appointment, you should make sure your details are up to date with Medicare.

If you don’t have your account set up, you can:

• Enrol in Medicare, if you’re not already enrolled.
• Set up your Medicare online account if you’re enrolled in Medicare, but don’t have Medicare linked to myGov.
• Get an Individual Health Identifier (IHI), if you’re not eligible for Medicare.

COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out to people in phases, with those most at risk receiving their vaccinations first.

The following people are eligible in phases 1a and 1b:

• people aged 70 and over
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 and over
• people with underlying health conditions
• critical and high-risk workers currently employed
• healthcare workers currently employed
• household contacts of quarantine and border workers.

Please note: Access Health and Community is currently providing vaccinations to eligible people who are aged 50 and above. 

You can call us on 1800 575 075 to check that you’re eligible and book your appointments.

It’s important that you read important information about the COVID-19 vaccine and discuss any concerns with your regular doctor before your vaccination appointment.

COVID-19 vaccination patient information sheets

• Read the patient fact sheet developed by the Australian Government Department of Health: Preparing for COVID-19 vaccination.
• Read the Access Health and Community fact sheet, What to expect after your COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccination consent form

• Read the Access Health and Community COVID-19 vaccination consent form. Please print and complete in advance (if possible).
• Read the Australian Government consent form: Consent form for COVID-19 vaccination

Information in other languages

Information about COVID-19 vaccines has been translated into multiple languages:

• لقاحات كوفيد-19 Arabic – العربية
• COVID-19疫苗 Chinese, Simplified – 简体中文
• واکسینهای COVID-19 Dari – دری
• Εμβόλια κατά της νόσου COVID-19 Greek – Ελληνικά
• Vaccini per il COVID-19 Italian – Italiano
• Vắc-xin COVID-19 Vietnamese – Tiếng Việt
• Find information in other languages

Information for new patients

Patients attending our medical practice for the first time will need to complete a patient registration form.

Please bring a summary of your medical history from your regular GP  to your appointment.

When it is your turn to get vaccinated, you can call Access Health and Community COVID-19 vaccination hotline on 1800 575 075 to book your appointments to get your first and second doses of the vaccine.

Vaccinations are currently being offered at Access Health and Community Hawthorn and Richmond.

Please do not come to your vaccination appointment:

• if you are feeling unwell with fever, cough, runny nose or other symptoms that could be from COVID-19
• if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or have tested positive for COVID-19
• if you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, or
• if you are in quarantine.

If you have had another vaccine in the 14 days before your COVID-19 vaccine appointment, please let us know as we may need to reschedule your appointment.

If you cannot make it to your vaccination appointment, please contact us to arrange a new appointment.

After receiving any vaccine, you may experience minor side effects. Most side effects are mild and last no more than a few days.

Common reactions to COVID-19 vaccinations include:

• a sore arm
• headache
• low level fever
• muscle pain
• chills
• tiredness
• joint pain.

You can use the COVID-19 vaccine side effects symptom checker if you have concerns about any symptoms after your vaccine. The checker is also available through the National Coronavirus Helpline, 1800 020 080, 24 hours a day.

Read the Access Health and Community fact sheet: What to expect after your COVID-19 vaccination

Before and after your COVID-19 vaccination, it is important that you continue to protect those around you by:

• washing your hands regularly with soap and water
• keeping 1.5m from others
• making sure the COVIDSafe app is active on your phone
• staying informed about local restrictions.