Victoria records 15 new COVID-19 cases as vaccination roll-out set to expand

The news comes as 15 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in Victoria overnight from over 40,000 tests.

Of the 15 new locally acquired cases, 11 have been linked to current outbreaks and four have sources of infection still under investigation. Eight have been in quarantine throughout their infectious periods.

There are now 148 active cases across the state.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrew said 12,000 young people were coming forward for their first AstraZeneca jabs after mass vaccination centres, including Bendigo Health's Mollison Street Mass Vaccination Centre, which opened up to under 40s at the beginning of the week.

Mr Andrews has announced a radical plan to administer one million vaccines over the next five weeks to get around 60 per cent of the state vaccinated by the end of September.

"We have overwhelmed at those nine sights, there's been 10,000 people from the age group," Mr Andrews said.

"That's why we announce we aim over the next few weeks to get a million jabs into a million arms; Pfizer as well as AstraZeneca.

"That means that AstraZeneca will be available to everybody over 18 at all of our state hubs, all 50 of them.

"This is all about making sure that we get jabs in arms and that we, all of us, play our part in getting to the other side of this."

The Victorian Government will expanding access to the vaccine for people aged 18-39 across all AstraZeneca state vaccination centres, and capacity is being scaled up across the state-run system with more drive-through and mobile clinics.

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More than 200,000 doses will be administered each week between August 16 and September 19, with sites operating with extended hours and with an additional 150 vaccination booths coming online.

Mr Andrews hoped as many people as possible would roll-up their sleeves for the vaccine to beat the million-jab target.

"We want to break that target, do better than that one million jabs," he said. "There's every chance we can.

"Proof of that is the fact that yesterday we had our biggest ever day; 27,427 at Victorian state clinics. That is a fantastic outcome.

"It is the most important thing to come forward to get vaccinated, to play your part, to protect not just yourself but the people you love the most and give us the freedom all of us want."

Mr Andrews said the million-jab effort was the aim of the state's mass vaccination centres with GP jabs adding to this goal.

The expansion to the vaccination program will also include three additional Melbourne drive-though centres.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said of today's 15 locally acquired cases, four were linked to Al-Taqwa College; one is a student, three others are household contacts in different households.

Two were linked to the City of Hobsons Bay outbreak, one to Caroline Springs Square Shopping Centre, one to the City of Melbourne outbreak, two in Glenroy.

Professor Sutton said there are three unlinked cases of the 15 cases announced today.

"One lives in Wyndham vale and works as a delivery truck driver," he said. "There are a number of exposure sites in Werribee that have been generated.

"Another case lives in Roxborough Park. There is a link to one of the school communities that's being investigated now.

"One case lives in Middle Park that is still under investigation."

For a full list of exposure sites head to coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites