Victorians out in force to get COVID-19 vaccine

Queues at coronavirus testing sites started forming early this morning as Victoria woke to its first day of a seven-day snap lockdown.

Over the past few days, vaccination rates have significantly climbed as the state braced for another bout of heavy restrictions amid a growing cluster in Melbourne's north.

Yesterday, after the lockdown was confirmed by Acting Premier James Merlino, queues to get the jab swelled larger than ever.

FOLLOW LIVE: Victoria enters day one of snap lockdown

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The government also said any Victorians aged 40 and over were now eligible to get the Pfizer vaccine.

Just moments after the announcement was made the state's vaccine hotline crashed, but bookings were still able to made and vaccine sites were swamped.

The Department of Health said the phone hotline received over 77,000 calls in a 15-minute window.

This morning queues to get the jab started early at several venues.

READ MORE: Bunnings among 150 venues added to Melbourne exposure sites list

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Getting a vaccine is one of five reasons Victorians are allowed to leave their home over the next seven days, along with shopping for food and supplies, authorised work and education, care and caregiving and exercise (for up to two hours and with one other person).

The Department of Health said 17,223 vaccination doses were administered across Victoria yesterday.

Meanwhile, the testing blitz across the state continued, with more 47,000 tests done in the 24 hours to midnight after the lockdown announcement.

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This morning saw major sites like the Melbourne Showgrounds and Albert Part with huge queues to get tested in the early hours of the morning as contact tracers work around the clock to understand where the virus has spread.

READ MORE: Shopping limits return amid Victoria's new lockdown

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