BHS remains yet to confirm a mass vaccination site to start the public roll-out and, in a statement late this week, made clear possible options had been identified.

About 10 general practice clinics in the region, including a new UFS-led public respiratory clinic, are bracing for the start of phase 1b vaccinations. Many practice staff The Courier spoke to this week said they were still awaiting further details and supply from the federal government, despite the Australian health department listing these clinics as ready to start jabs from Monday.

BHS made clear GPs would be invaluable in the vaccination, due to this city's large population.

Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid said the government "should have been a little bit more clear with the public that actually this is a really slow start to the roll-out".

This next phase is predominantly led by residents aged 70-plus.

All BHS aged care residents who have chosen to be vaccinated have received their first Pfizer dose and those further afield in the Grampians started on Wednesday.

Most of the general public under phase 1b will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, which BHS encouraged the community to take confidence in.

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This comes as Germany, France and other European nations will resume using the AstraZeneca vaccine after regulators found benefits outweighed risks.

A review by Europe's drug regulator detected no link between the AstraZeneca jab and blood clots, however, it could not rule out a link between the vaccine and 25 combined cases of two rare blood disorders.

Therapeutic Goods Administration has received no reports of blood clots following use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia.

Meanwhile, vaccinations are set to start this week for high-risk healthcare staff in the Grampians region outside Ballarat.

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