• Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination booking system is online, allowing Australians in Phase 1B of the rollout to secure an appointment from Monday.
• But listed clinics have reported issues with the system, saying they don’t have enough vaccine stocks on hand to accept further bookings.
• The number of vaccine providers is projected to grow to more than 4,000 by the end of April.
• Visit Business Insider Australia’s homepage for more stories.

Australia’s official COVID-19 vaccine booking website has officially launched, allowing millions of at-risk Australians to secure a vaccination appointment from Monday.

But medical practitioners have reported issues with the booking system, with some clinics saying they do not have enough vaccine stocks to accept new patients via the online portal.

The Healthdirect Vaccine Eligibility Checker, launched Wednesday morning, permits anyone in Phase 1B of Australia’s vaccine rollout program to secure the jab.

Phase 1B includes those over 70 years old, Indigenous Australians over 55, adults with underlying medical conditions, and adults who live with a disability and attendant medical conditions.

Health care workers not included in Phase 1A of the vaccine rollout, along with critical and high-risk workers in the defence, emergency services, and meat processing industries are also eligible under Phase 1B.

After filling out the eligibility form, users are directed to a list of vaccination sites, where they can book an appointment online or via phone.

Even so, clinics across the country have reacted with surprise and anger to the new site, with some saying they simply don’t have enough vaccine supplies on hand to confirm new bookings from Monday.

The Advertiser reports an initial batch of 320 vaccine doses destined for one South Australia’s Chandlers Hill Surgery is already spoken for, meaning the clinic, which is listed on the new site, has not opted in to the system.

Tasmanian clinics have reported similar issues, while Whitehorse Medical Centre in Mitcham, Victoria — also listed on the Vaccine Eligibility Checker — states it will not be able to accept new vaccination appointments until its own booking system is updated.

Some vaccination sites offering online bookings through HealthEngine are also not accepting patients who weren’t already registered with the clinic.

Speaking on 3AW Wednesday morning, Health Minister Greg Hunt called for calm, saying that “every clinic that has been listed has only been listed because they have made and had confirmed an order.”

Up to 14.8 million vaccine doses will be provided as part of Phase 1B.

In a statement obtained by the ABC,Hunt said some 200,000 Australians have been vaccinated so far, with that number expected to ramp up when local production of the AstraZeneca vaccine begins.

The Federal Government says it plans to offer every Australian a COVID-19 vaccination by October, a milestone which will require a significant acceleration of the national vaccine rollout.

Editor’s note: This report has been updated to reflect reported booking issues with the Vaccine Eligibility Checker.

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