Hotline meltdown: Victoria’s vaccination phone line crashes within minutes of opening

Victoria has set up a dedicated vaccination hotline today, but both the new number and the existing COVID-19 hotline are experiencing problems.

From today, 40 to 49-year-olds are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, but the only way they can book is via the hotline.

After the coronavirus hotline crashed for several hours yesterday amid overwhelming demand, the state government has today set up a dedicated vaccination hotline.

For more than an hour on Friday morning, a recorded message was introduced on the general coronavirus vaccine line — 1800 675 398 — which instructed callers to ring the vaccine line if they were trying to book for a jab, and then hung up on callers.

That’s left individuals and businesses with other questions about COVID-19 with nowhere to turn for information.

As of 9.20am, the recorded message had been changed to offer access to other COVID-19 information.

The new vaccine hotline — 1800 571 121 — meanwhile, is either engaged or hangs up on callers.

Press PLAY below for more information on the problems with the coronavirus hotlines