Australia’s peak diabetes organisations are encouraging all Australian adults with diabetes to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as the vaccine is available to them.

The COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and have been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) rigorous testing process. Both vaccines currently approved by the TGA (AstraZeneca and Pfizer) are suitable for use in adults living with diabetes.

We recommend all adults with diabetes get vaccinated against COVID-19. There is clear evidence that people with diabetes are at higher risk of serious illness if they get COVID-19. There is clear evidence that the approved vaccines reduce the risk of serious illness with COVID-19. It is important that as many Australians as possible get vaccinated. This is the best path forward in the fight against the virus.

Timing

The vaccine roll-out will occur in three phases:

• Phase 1a includes frontline workers with a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 including quarantine and border workers, health workers and aged care and disability care staff. Aged care and disability residents can also get vaccinated in this group.
• All adults living with diabetes will be included in Phase 1b which will begin in late March. This is something we advocated for and we are glad the Government has responded.
• Children and young people, including those with diabetes, will be vaccinated in Phase 3 subject to appropriate approvals from the TGA.

You can find more information about the vaccine roll-out here.

Location

Each State/Territory government is responsible for administering vaccinations. Talk to your GP about where and when you can get vaccinated.

More information

It is important to stay up to date with the latest information about the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. For regular updates please visit:

• Diabetes Australia’s website or Facebook page
• The Australian Government’s COVID-19 page