As they say, the eagle has landed.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced the arrival of 142,000 Pfizer vaccines today.

Of those, 80,000 will be released after batch testing on Monday. 

States and Territories will get 60 per cent of the supply – or about 50,000 doses – while the Commonwealth will distribute 30,000 vaccines across aged care centres.“The eagle has landed,” Mr Hunt said. 

“(The States) will be able to begin with the priority for hotel quarantine, they will also be focusing on other related workers, those that are most likely to come into contact with positive international arrivals.”

The Pfizer needs to be kept between -60 to -80 degrees Celsius.

A second vaccine by AstraZeneca is expected to be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in “coming days”.

The whole vaccine program is costing the Federal Government about $6.3 billion.

Australia COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

Australia’s vaccine rollout will be staged in five phases.

Phase 1a Monday, February 22

Up to 1.4 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to quarantine and border workers, frontline healthcare workers and aged care and disability care residents and workers.

Phase 1b up to 14.8 million doses

Elderly adults aged 80 years and over, elderly adults aged 70-79 years, other healthcare workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 55, younger adults with an underlying medical condition and critical and high-risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing personnel are included in Phase 1b.

Phase 2a up to 15.8 million doses

It will be offered to adults aged 60-69 years, adults aged 50-59 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 18-54 and other critical and high-risk workers.

Phase 2b up to 16 million doses

COVID-19 vaccine will then be offered to the rest of the adult population.

Phase 3 up to 13.6 million doses and will be offered to people under 16 years old if it is recommended by the TGA.

Further Perth news on SoPerth.com.au.