When the Pfizer vaccine was first provisionally approved by the regulator in early 2021, the scientific evidence was that it needed to be kept at ultra-cold temperatures - below minus 70 degrees - until just hours before being injected.

It was thought the vaccine wouldn't remain stable as the temperature rose, but more evidence has proven it remains safe and effective for longer out of the deep freeze.

Lister House chief executive Amanda Wilson said while the new guidelines would help get the vaccine out to the regions, the issue was the availability of Pfizer doses.

READ MORE:

"Obviously it makes a bigger difference to everybody, to be able to get access to the vaccine. However, the thing to be aware of is the availability of the doses," she said.

"Even though they are getting more into the country there is still not enough to go around significantly.

"Even though it might be easier to store the vaccine, we still have to have the doses to be able to give it."

Mrs Wilson said the federal government had not provided a concrete timeline to the clinic as to when they would start receiving Pfizer doses.

The goal will be towards the end of the year, in time to administer phase 2b vaccinations to the wider public.

Mrs Wilson believed Lister House would be one of the first recipients of Pfizer doses from the federal government, due to its role as a GPRC vaccine hub in the Wimmera.

OTHER NEWS:

She also encouraged anyone eligible for AstraZeneca to book in for the vaccine.

"Both vaccines are very safe and both do the job they need to do. We are here and ready, we are the community hub that needs to vaccinate everyone in the community," she said.

"We are more than happy with this lockdown, it is going to be one of the things that people are allowed to go out for.

"So they are welcome to come down, whether they want to organise an appointment or we can sort it out on the day. If there is a wait then you'll have to wait."

Ahead of the official announcement, last week Health Minister Greg Hunt called the likely change to requirements a "gamechanger".

"[It] will see a fundamentally important thing happen," Mr Hunt told a conference of pharmacists.

"And so, we have supply and we have refrigeration, which means that we will be able to have a dual track program of our general practices and community pharmacies."

He said pharmacies would be a fundamental part of the third phase of the rollout.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: