The COVID vaccine rollout is finally here. Right at Home Australia outlines to our homecare clients and their families, the who's, what's, and when's.

Phase 1a has already be completed, which included quarantine and border workers, priority frontline healthcare workers, and staff and residents of aged care and disability centres.

From Monday, March 22, phase 1b will be in effect allowing Australians aged over 70 to be vaccinated, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 55, healthcare workers not covered in phase 1a and adults with underlying medical conditions.

Phase 2a will include adults aged over 50, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 to 54 and other critical and high risk workers. Phase 2b will include the remaining adult population. Phase 3 will include, if recommended, Australians aged under 18.

To check your vaccine eligibility, visit the Department of Health's Vaccine Eligibility Checker.

The government has ordered three COVID vaccines to be rolled out in Australia. The Australian has outlined each vaccine and what we can expect in its C-19 Vaccines Special Report. Continue reading to learn more about each one.

AstraZeneca

How many doses will you need? Two, administered 4-12 weeks apart.

How many doses will Australia receive? The federal government has purchased 53.8 million doses.

Where will the vaccine be made? 50 million of the doses will be made in Melbourne, with 3.8 million produced in Europe.

When will the vaccine be available in Australia? It has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for people aged over 18 and the first doses are expected to be available in March.

How effective is the vaccine? 62% effective preventing laboratory confirmed COVID-19 when dosed 28 days apart, 82% effective when doses spaced 12 weeks apart, 76% effective at preventing COVID after a single shot, reduced transmission of the virus by 67% in the UK. No one who received the vaccine has been hospitalised or become seriously ill with COVID.

Have there been any side effects? Injection site tenderness, fatigue, chills, fever, headache, nausea, joint pain or muscle ache, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, runny nose, cough and chills, enlarged lymph nodes, excessive sweating, itchy skin or rash.

Pfizer Biontech

How many doses will you need? Two doses at least 21 days apart.

Where will the vaccine be made? Belgium and Kalamazoo, Michigan.

How many doses will Australia receive? Australia has purchased 20 million doses, all produced overseas.

When will the vaccine be available in Australia? The first 142,000 doses have arrived in Australia and the first jab was delivered Monday February 22. It has been approved in Australia for ages 16 and older. Two doses at least 21 days apart

How effective is the vaccine? 95% effective against symptomatic COVID-19, 52% effective at preventing illness after the first shot.

Have there been any side effects? Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain and chills, joint pain, 11.1 people in every one million suffer a naphylactic reaction. 

Novovax

How many doses will you need? Two, 21 days apart.

How effective is the vaccine? 89.3% effective at preventing COVID-19, 60% effective against South African variant.

Where will the vaccine be made? Europe.

How many doses will Australia receive? 51 million doses purchased.

When will the vaccine be available in Australia? Not yet approved.

Are there any side effects? Pain and tenderness at the injection site, headaches, muscle pain, and fatigue.

It is important to remember that there is still a Covid 19 risk in our communities so please keep yourself informed and look at the links below. If you need assistance or transport getting to a facility to receive the vaccine, consider using our homecare services.

Keep up to date with COVID 19 information on the following links:

Australian Government Department of Health

Victorian Health and Human Services

NSW Health

Queensland Health

ACT Health

WA Department of Health

Tasmanian Department of Health

Northern Territory Department of Health

SA Health

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care, and assistance to seniors (elderly and aged care), and any adult who needs our care at home including adults living with a disability who want to continue to live independently or age in their home. Right at Home is your local expert for issues related to caring for your loved ones and is dedicated to keeping you informed about home care. With no admin or subscription fees Right at Home allows you to get more care from your package or budget.

Right at Home is a 'My Aged Care' government approved, home care provider for levels 1 – 4 and offers flexible in-home care services such as nursing care, after hospital care, post-operative care,respite care, dementia and Alzheimer's care. Right at Home also offers assistance with daily living and personal care such as grooming, hygiene, transport, shopping, meal prep, domestic services and social support, so your loved one can enjoy a more independent, vibrant life. Our nurses and caregivers are screened, highly trained, and insured prior to entering your home so you can trust us with the caregiving while you focus on your loved one.

To find out more, please give us a call on 1300 363 802 or visit our website.

Right at Home Offices in Australia: Sydney Lower North Shore; Sydney Upper North Shore; Sydney Central and Eastern Suburbs; Sydney Northern Beaches; Sydney North West; Sydney The Hills; Padstow St George; Macarthur Penrith; Newcastle; Hunter & Port Stephens; Southern NSW; Toowoomba- Darling Downs; Sunshine Coast and Gympie; Mackay; Central Queensland; Townsville; Far North Queensland; Gold Coast South; Gold Coast North; Northern Rivers; Brisbane Bayside; Brisbane South; Brisbane North; Brisbane West; Perth Midland; Perth Northern Suburbs; Perth West Coast: Kalgoorlie Wheatbelt; Moreton Bay Region; Sydney Inner West;