When you will receive the COVID-19 vaccine

The Federal Government has launched an online Vaccine Eligibility Checker tool that defines when different Australians can receive the vaccine against COVID-19.

The tool asks a series of questions about your employment status and living situation before broadly grouping you into one of the rollout's designated phases.

A full explanation of the phases can be found below.

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Currently Phase 1a is underway, meaning quarantine border workers, frontline health care workers and aged care staff and residents are being inoculated against harsh symptoms of the virus.

The groups are Phase 1a, Phase 1b, Phase 2a, Phase 2b and Phase 3.

Most Australians will be eligible for the vaccine in phase 2b, in which up to 16 million doses may be conducted.

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The government has long said that the priority system is necessary to identify those who need protection from the virus the most.

"There is significant demand for safe and effective vaccines to end the COVID-19 pandemic. As vaccines become available, they will go to people in higher risk groups," the government advises.

"For example, health and aged care workers are a priority group because they are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 due to their frequent contact with people.

"They are also more likely to transmit the virus to vulnerable people through their work in hospitals and aged care facilities. It is for everyone's benefit that this group is prioritised for vaccination so they can continue providing essential care."

To try the online eligibility tool for yourself, click here.

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Australia's COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Phases explained:

Phase 1a
Quarantine, border and front line health care workers will need to provide proof of occupation to demonstrate their eligibility Quarantine and border workers, including: staff at entry points to the country (such as sea ports and land borders) staff working in quarantine facilities, including those employed under Commonwealth, state or private agreements, and   Commonwealth employees (including Defence personnel) who are identified as having the potential to encounter returning travellers as part of their work.
Frontline health care worker sub-groups for prioritisation frontline staff in facilities or services such as hospital emergency departments,COVID-19 and respiratory wards, Intensive Care Units and High-dependency Units laboratory staff handling potentially infectious material ambulance and paramedics service GP respiratory clinics COVID-19 testing facilities *All other healthcare workers are included in Phase 1b, including medical and tertiary students with placements in these healthcare settings.
Aged care and disability care staff nursing and personal care staff allied health professionals who routinely provide care kitchen, cleaning, laundry, garden and office staff
Aged care and disability care residents
Number of doses	up to 1.4m
Phase 1b
Elderly adults aged 80 years and over
Elderly adults aged 70-79 years
Other health care workers
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people > 55
Adults with an underlying medical condition, including those with a disability   *People will need to provide proof of these conditions to demonstrate their eligibility for vaccination via My health record, a health professional referral if required or a declaration form.
Critical and high risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing   * Workers will need to provide proof of occupation to demonstrate their eligibility.
Number of doses	up to 14.8m
Phase 2a
Adults aged 60-69 years
Adults aged 50-59 years
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 18-54
Other critical and high risk workers
Number of doses	up to 15.8m
Phase 2b
Balance of adult population
Catch up any unvaccinated Australians from previous phases
Number of doses	up to 16m
Phase 3
< 16 if recommended*
Number of doses	up to 13.6m
*Pfizer vaccine only

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