Moderna vaccines available in Victorian pharmacies

The Moderna vaccine is now available in Victorian pharmacies, with 300,000 doses set to be administered this month.

The COVID-19 vaccine is on offer to eligible Victorians aged 12 to 59 years for the first time, as the latest vaccine to be added to the vaccine rollout.

Five Melbourne pharmacies received the first supply of Moderna today - Altona's Chemcare Wellness Pharmacy, Braybrook's Chemist Warehouse, Sunshine's Terrywhite Chemmart, Cairnlea's Priceline Pharmacy and Deer Park Pharmacy.

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There is expected to be over 300,000 doses delivered to pharmacies across the state this month, with supplies to increase further in October and November.

The second dose of the Moderna vaccine is due to be administered four weeks after the first.

Victorians have already jumped to get the new brand of vaccine.

Esther Pardo, 13, was among the first to get the jab on the first day of school holidays after her mum found an appointment online at Terrywhite Chemart in Sunshine.

"It was pretty exciting to get, so I can go out and meet some friends, catch up with family," she said.

Year 8 student Zach Cassar was also one of the first Victorians to get a Moderna vaccine, saying it felt "pretty awesome to be one of the first".

Some pharmacies are taking walk-in appointments for Moderna vaccinations but people are advised to book online.

So far more than 72 per cent of Victorians over 16 have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 44 per cent are fully vaccinated.