COVID-19 Vaccine
Health Consumers Queensland believes that every Queenslander should be able to find high quality information about the COVID-19 vaccine and the roll-out plans in Queensland to be able to make informed choices and decisions.
Vaccination myths
While there is a lot of reliable information around about the COVID vaccines, there has also been a marked increase in confusion and misinformation as well. With so much going on, it can be hard to work out what the truth is. Here are some good resources about COVID myths and evidence-based responses to them.
SBS News: Myths about COVID-19 vaccines are still doing the rounds. Here’s why they don’t check out.
Australian Federal Government: COVID-19 mythbusting
Australian Department of Health: COVID-19 vaccines – Is it true?
Reliable sources of information
Queensland Health
Queensland Health’s COVID vaccine pages are an excellent source of reliable and up-to-date information for Queenslanders. Information includes the Queensland rollout, about vaccines, how to book an appointment, and targeted information for specific groups.
Vaccine information for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse consumers
World Wellness Group has information on booking vaccines, and answers to some common myths about the COVID vaccines. They also have links to information in other languages.
Vaccine information for First Nations consumers
Queensland Health has COVID-19 vaccination information specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, or First Nations, people. The page covers topics such as why vaccinate, access, and how to find reliable sources of information.
Articles on COVID vaccines on The Conversation
The Conversation is a unique collaboration between academics and journalists. Everything on the site is created by academics and journalists working together, supported by a team of digital technology experts. Their professional editors turn knowledge and insights from academics into accessible, easy-to-read articles.
Read COVID vaccine articles on The Conversation
Vaccine information for people with specific conditions
Our COVID-19 consultations
Second vaccine Q&A forum for First Nations consumers
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health consumers from across Queensland were invited to attend another Q&A session on COVID-19 vaccinations on 29 March 2021.
79 people registered and close to 100 attended (some joined in pairs or groups). People registered from across Queensland: Mt Isa, Bamaga, Tambo, Cooktown, Ipswich, Whitsundays. Many of the people who registered were elders, or people living with complex health needs, or staff who work in health services across Queensland. Their questions reflect what matters to them and their community.
Many questions were asked in the chat about the COVID-19 vaccination and we didn’t get a chance to answer all of them. We have created a summary of the questions and concerns raised, grouped into themes.
Read about the panel members
Ms Haylene Grogan, Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer, Deputy Director-General Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Queensland Health. Haylene is a very proud Kuku Yalanji and Tagalaka woman with Italian heritage. Haylene has extensive experience in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy development, having held executive positions in the Queensland, New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments.
Dr Mark Wenitong is from the Kabi Kabi tribal group of South Queensland, and has worked in government, peak bodies and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector both in clinical roles on the ground and leadership roles in the sector, for many years.
Associate Professor James Ward is a Pitjantjatjara and Narungga man, and a national leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research. He is currently the Director of the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Professor within the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland, and also has a key role in providing advice to the Commonwealth Minister for Health on the immunisation program for COVID-19 vaccines as they become available in Australia as a member of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) COVID-19 Working Group.
Associate Professor Margie Danchin is an immunisation expert with over ten years experience in vaccine research and clinical work, both in Australia and in resource poor settings. Her research program is focused on improving vaccine confidence, demand and uptake of licensed vaccines in different settings and populations
Health Consumers Queensland invited First Nations community members (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) to join Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young and Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer and Deputy Director-General Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Division, Haylene Grogan, to an online forum about the COVID vaccine.
The evening’s Question and Answer forum was the first of many activities planned by health services and governments to ensure First Nations people have a chance to learn more about the vaccine and ask questions.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young, has tirelessly led the state’s response to COVID-19. On 23 February we were delighted to invite consumers and carers and NGOs to join Dr Young to hear the latest on the Queensland rollout and to have their vaccination questions answered.