WTF?
Details emerge of what Operation COVID Shield might look like
Australians could get COVID-19 vaccinations at drive through-sites like stadiums, shopping centres or schools, according to a new plan released by the federal government.
The Prime Minister announced Operation COVID Shield in June, and now some of the details about what it entails have been released.
It might mean the days of confusion about vaccine eligibility and duelling medical advice from chief health officers around the country could soon be over, if it is implemented.
So how could it affect you, and how likely is it that this plan will actually be enacted?
Can I get a vaccination with my sausage sanga at Bunnings?
Operation COVID Shield calls for a pilot scheme of vaccination centres to be set up in retail settings in October 2021.
If that's successful, the plan envisions retail vaccination hubs operating at a larger scale in most states and territories by November.
Retail giant Wesfarmers, which owns Bunnings and Officeworks, has previously offered to host vaccination sites, so you might be able to get vaccinated and fulfil your DIY needs in just one trip.
The head of the taskforce overseeing the vaccine rollout, Lieutenant General John Frewen, says the goal is to make the vaccine as easy as possible to get.
"We are looking to bring in every possible place of vaccination that we can," he said.
"Drive-throughs is one potential option, the plan we released yesterday also talks about pop-up hubs.
"What I would really like to see as we get late in the year is the maximum convenience available for people in Australia to get vaccinated."
I got my last flu shot at work, why can't they just do that for COVID-19?
That might happen.
Again, the plan calls for a pilot program to be up and running by October, and at full scale in most states and territories by November.
Some businesses aren't waiting, though.
Woolworths has also set up pop-up clinics for their staff to try to make it as easy as possible for them to get a jab.
Westpac has confirmed it is starting up workplace vaccinations from this month, with Lieutenant General Frewen saying Commonwealth Bank has also said it will do the same.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-04/operation-covid-shield-rollout-questions-scott-morrison/100347820