Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Aged 16 and Over Can Now Get the COVID Vaccine

The aim is to protect vulnerable communities.

As of today, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 16 and over are eligible for their coronavirus vaccine.

All Indigenous Australians that meet this eligibility will be recommended the Pfizer vaccine and can make a booking on the Department of Health’s website now.

This update to the vaccine comes as a plan to protect vulnerable communities, particularly in more remote areas around the country.

Since invasion from the British in 1770, Indigenous Australian communities have continued to experience poor health conditions compared to white communities.

This is due to the dispossession of Aboriginal land, introduction of foreign diseases, ongoing violence and racism against Indigenous communities, and exclusion from necessary amenities in some areas.

These conditions have led to the life expectancy gap, which refers to the disparity between the life expectancy of an Aboriginal Australian compared to a non-Indigenous Australian. Right now, the gap is between eight to nine years.

Helping to Close the Gap is everyone’s responsibility, including the government. So, accessibility to the COVID-19 vaccine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth makes a huge difference.

“Getting a vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting yourself from getting really sick from COVID-19,” the Department of Health said in a statement.

“Encourage your family, Elders and community to get vaccinated so that they are protected from serious illness from COVID-19.”

So, not only will getting the vaccine help you protect yourself, but also your family. You can double-check your eligibility and find a full list of locations where you can get vaccinated here.

On top of the lowered vaccination age, COVID-19 vaccines will now become available from most Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.

Up until now, people living in the Northern Territory (outside of Darwin) were eligible for the vaccine regardless of age or race in an effort to protect vulnerable Aboriginal communities that currently make up almost a third of the population in the area.

Now, Darwin is also included in the Northern Territory rollout.

Today, the Western Australian government also opened up their Pfizer vaccine rollout to West Aussies between the ages of 30 and 49, allowing more people to get the jab.

If you meet any of the eligibility criteria for the coronavirus vaccine in your state and want to do your bit to protect your community, you can find out more and book your appointment here.

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