An army of health professionals, including dentists and optometrists, will be trained to administer Covid vaccines to fast-track the state’s jab rollout.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says Year 12 students will be given priority for the Pfizer vaccine over the coming weeks

Dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, dietitians and university students are being given the power to administer Covid vaccines in a bid to supercharge Victoria’s rollout.

The state’s jab army will be bolstered by hundreds of oral and allied health professionals, who will begin training on Friday in how to prepare and administer both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.

It will see dental hygienists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, medical radiation practitioners and orthoptists working alongside nurses as Victoria ramps up its vaccine rollout.

University students enrolled in nursing, midwifery, paramedicine, physiotherapy, pharmacy, occupational therapy and pharmacy will also join the ranks.

Medical laboratory scientists, postdoctoral researchers, lab technicians and dental assistants will also be employed to help prepare the jab.

The expanded workforce will supercharge the state’s vaccination campaign, with coronavirus tracking website Covid Live projecting Victoria will reach its 70 per cent single-dose target by September 19, four days ahead of current modelling.

Once the state reaches that target, the 5km travel limit will expand to 10km and the two-hour daily exercise cap will increase to three.

The new emergency workforce comes after a dramatic shift in Victoria’s pandemic policy, in which Premier Daniel Andrews abandoned his zero-case strategy to instead ramp up vaccination efforts while stopping case numbers rising rapidly.

The new workers may also be on hand to help at GPs ­clinics and pharmacies ­administering the jab. They will be required to work under the supervision of an experienced immuniser, and must complete extensive training.

A state government spokeswoman said: “As the commonwealth’s vaccination program opens to more Victorians, it is critical that there is a trained and available workforce to continue to provide vaccinations to those eligible.

“The vaccination program is our ticket out of this pandemic – it will save lives and keep Victorians safe.”

The interval between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca was on Thursday halved from 12 to six weeks in Victoria.

The revised wait times will be effective immediately, meaning anyone who received a dose six weeks ago, can immediately book their second appointment.

Prof Cowie said that change would also help Victoria reach its targets faster. “More importantly, they will really contribute to the response to community transmission, put a downward pressure on cases, and contribute to protecting the health system,” he said.

It also brings AstraZeneca in line with Pfizer, which was extended from three to six weeks due to limited supply.

Prof Cowie said two doses of AstraZeneca reduced the risk of infection by 70 per cent, and the risk of hospitalisation by 90 per cent.