The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[JB expat]

Well at the moment the majority of those eligible for second AZ are over 70, as 1B only started in late March. This cohort dont have another vaccine option so not likely to see much of a drop-off.

However, as we get into mid July and second doses start to include the over 50s (who started AZ process later) you will see the real numbers refusing a second dose start to be reflected.

I'm a 1B - and in the "AZ danger zone" - had my 2nd AZ on Saturday, the 3 month mark from my 1st AZ. It will be interesting to see how many 1B'ers don't go ahead with the 2nd AZ because they are now scared of AZ and/or now within the Pfizer age range.

My fully vaccinated status now appears in the medicare records on the MY GOV website and I was able to download what they call a "COVID digital certificate" which I was overly excited to see.

 

[RAM]

The reports of people not being able to get second doses of Pfizer in Vic are not accurate. Bookings remain available to do so, though some venues are more available than others.

However, maybe vaccine hesitancy for second doses is not just amongst those assigned AZ?

Bridget Rollason
@bridgerollo

The
@VictorianCHO
says 95k people who’ve had their first dose of Pfizer are due for their second from this week, but there are only 50k bookings in the system. Urges everyone due for second dose to book in and says there are tens of thousands of slots left
@abcmelbourne
#springst

Have not seen those reports of issues securing 2nd vaccination booking for Pfizer in Vic, but have seen much blaming Vic Govt for not holding back doses....

Despite the Fed Govt coming out over 20 times stating vehemently that the Fed Govt is the only party that should be stockpiling to manage 2nd doses.

Big stir (realtively speaking) in the Senate with Richard Colbeck undertaking to provide the 1 page schedule (which I have posted about many times previously) that details the weekly deliveries to be made by Pfizer (via SIA weekly flight).

Last night, following Colbeck's statement, the special 'Covid committee' set up when Parliament stopped sitting - was told by a senior Federal Health bureaucrat there are no supply issues and anyone wanting a Pfizer shot in the next two months would be able to get fully vaccinated 'as there are excess supplies available, more than enough."

Oops.

Colbeck made the statement yesterday during question time & did not follow through. Now the Senate has delved into the legality of Scott Morrison declaring the States & PM meeting as 'National Cabinet'. Turns out that is not legal under Federal legislation & therefore all documents should be publicly available.

Oh for some honesty/transparency.

 

[RAM]

I'm a 1B - and in the "AZ danger zone" - had my 2nd AZ on Saturday, the 3 month mark from my 1st AZ. It will be interesting to see how many 1B'ers don't go ahead with the 2nd AZ because they are now scared of AZ and/or now within the Pfizer age range.

My fully vaccinated status now appears in the medicare records on the MY GOV website and I was able to download what they call a "COVID digital certificate" which I was overly excited to see.

Does the certificate look to have any 'security' features to stop it being copied/forged?

 

[bcworld]

Just got Clive Palmer's COVID vax flyer in the junk mail...completely ridiculous, and he has the audacity to accuse the TGA and government of spreading misinformation to "create fear in the population"!

 

[JB expat]

Does the certificate look to have any 'security' features to stop it being copied/forged?

It is accessible online and you can download an e-copy. I imagine that the downloaded document would be pretty easy to forge. But note it does a document number as well as an individual healthcare identifier which is not my Medicare number. Thus, I imagine there will be a way to check on the back end. How this will all play out, no idea. However, for foreign travel, I can imagine having a separate COVID visa in your passport issued by the government with all the anti-forgery technology built into passports and visas. As for use for things like entry into large events (should this become "a thing"), I have no idea how they would control re: forgery. Maybe this document will be used to create something akin to a drivers license or a working with children license - coordinated through Aus Post and resulting in a license with anti forgery protections. I am very pro-vaccine and want to protect myself and others - I would not want people to appear to be vaccinated when they actually aren't so I hope they are thinking about these things - I have completely lost confidence in proactive thinking by all levels of government.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I'm a 1B - and in the "AZ danger zone" - had my 2nd AZ on Saturday, the 3 month mark from my 1st AZ.

Congratulations.

It will be interesting to see how many 1B'ers don't go ahead with the 2nd AZ because they are now scared of AZ and/or now within the Pfizer age range.

My fully vaccinated status now appears in the medicare records on the MY GOV website and I was able to download what they call a "COVID digital certificate" which I was overly excited to see.

Yes, I have no idea what happened outside of Vic but certainly before the advice on AZ changed to over 50's who were eligible to be vaccinated received AZ including my 27 yo daughter and most of her medical colleagues at her hospital.

And I certainly know of many others below 50 who have had AZ.

Then there are also many over 50, over 60, over 70 all who have had AZ.

When I had mine in early May as a 60 year the GPRC was full with 50 to just over 60 year olds. Did not spy any who looked much over.

Then when the recent outbreak took off there was large surge in vaccinations, and from the footage many would have been 50/60 odd.

So at least in Vic I think that there is a large cohort of people of various ages who have had a AZ first dose who have only very recently become eligible for their second dose, and are now only just starting to work through the system..

 

[Pushka]

So at least in Vic I think that there is a large cohort of people of various ages who have had a AZ first dose who have only very recently become eligible for their second dose, and are now only just starting to work through the system..

Indeed. As a 1b I had mine done on the first day it opened and it’s only been a week since the 12 weeks were up.

 

[drron]

The anti vaxxers caome in all colours and anywhere on the IQ scale.In the USA one of the most prominent is Robert Kennedy - the son of the former AG Robert Kennedy brother of JFK.

How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Became the Anti-vaxxer Icon of America’s Nightmares

The political scion has deployed a race-baiting “documentary” and disinformation to advance bogus theories and seed anti-vaccine sentiment.

www.vanityfair.com

 

[JB expat]

The anti vaxxers caome in all colours and anywhere on the IQ scale.In the USA one of the most prominent is Robert Kennedy - the son of the former AG Robert Kennedy brother of JFK.

How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Became the Anti-vaxxer Icon of America’s Nightmares

The political scion has deployed a race-baiting “documentary” and disinformation to advance bogus theories and seed anti-vaccine sentiment.

www.vanityfair.com

I know. When I discovered this re: Robert Kennedy I was absolutely stunned.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Hopefully the latest ‘enhancement’ to the AZ rollout hasn’t scared the public as much as it has our revered leaders....

It would be a ringing endorsement of our GP's and primary care networks if AZ vaccinations for over-60s maintain similar levels over the coming months. Frankly I am starting to believe that if you are eligible for a vaccine and no medical reason for refusing, then you are part of the problem and not the solution.

 

[Pushka]

SA had its highest vaccination numbers today.

 

[Batterytraveller]

Just got Clive Palmer's COVID vax flyer in the junk mail...completely ridiculous, and he has the audacity to accuse the TGA and government of spreading misinformation to "create fear in the population"!

Is there anyone in the country who doesn’t think Australia would be better off of Clive Palmer fell down a deep hole?

 

[JB expat]

Is there anyone in the country who doesn’t think Australia would be better off of Clive Palmer fell down a deep hole?

Re: anti-vaxxers - the government needs to announce at a certain point that they are fully opening up borders - hopefully shortly after there is availability for all adults to have been fully vaccinated - and then let the anti-vaxxers live (or fall ill) based on their irrational decision. Catering/managing risk by slowing opening up to lower the risk for anti-vaxxers is ridiculous.

 

[Solid]

I think that part of the issue with the 2nd booking - at least with Pfizer - is that people cannot (at least here in VIC that I've heard) book both vaccines at the same time. You need to make the 2nd booking separately, and the most proactive makes the 2nd when they get home from the first but in my mind this is not the most user-friendly approach.

NSW based and have my first Pfizer booked for Monday. When you book it automatically books you in 3 weeks later and sends you two booking references. Beggars belief that Vic can’t do this but I guess we’ve come to expect inconsistency between states.

 

[Batterytraveller]

Well here’s a different approach

"Don't get me wrong. There is a crisis being faced in this country. There is a national emergency. If you don't want to get vaccinated, I'll have you arrested and I'll inject the vaccine in your butt," Duterte said.

President Duterte threatens to arrest Filipinos who refuse vaccination - The Mainichi

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- The Philippine president has threatened to order the arrest of Filipinos who refuse COVID-19 vaccination and told them to

mainichi.jp

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting view from the BBC

Covid vaccine: Why are Australians cancelling AstraZeneca jabs?

More people are shunning the world's most widely used Covid vaccine over its perceived risk.

www.bbc.com

Turning down any vaccine - and AstraZeneca is the world's most widely used one - may seem remarkable to other nations still battling rampant Covid.

 

[drron]

And anyone over 70 cancelling their second AZ shot doesn't have all the facts.Remember early on with the vaccines quite a few older Norwegians died after having the Pfizer jab but it was fobbed off as they were going to die anyway.Well further study suggests that was wrong and some of the deaths were probably due to the vaccine.

Covid-19: Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is “likely” responsible for deaths of some elderly patients, Norwegian review finds

The Pfizer-BioNTech covid-19 vaccine is “likely” to have been responsible for at least 10 deaths of frail elderly people in nursing homes in Norway, an expert review commissioned by the Norwegian Medicines Agency has concluded. The expert group was established at the end of February 2021 to...

www.bmj.com

And at the other end of life it has become obvious that myocarditis/pericarditis can be a side effect of the Pfizer jab in young people.

More young adults than expected have reported heart inflammation following Covid-19 vaccination

The condition, called myocarditis, is usually mild, but a handful of patients remain hospitalized.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Pushka]

And anyone over 70 cancelling their second AZ shot doesn't have all the facts.Remember early on with the vaccines quite a few older Norwegians died after having the Pfizer jab but it was fobbed off as they were going to die anyway.Well further study suggests that was wrong and some of the deaths were probably due to the vaccine.

Covid-19: Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is “likely” responsible for deaths of some elderly patients, Norwegian review finds

The Pfizer-BioNTech covid-19 vaccine is “likely” to have been responsible for at least 10 deaths of frail elderly people in nursing homes in Norway, an expert review commissioned by the Norwegian Medicines Agency has concluded. The expert group was established at the end of February 2021 to...

www.bmj.com

And at the other end of life it has become obvious that myocarditis/pericarditis can be a side effect of the Pfizer jab in young people.

More young adults than expected have reported heart inflammation following Covid-19 vaccination

The condition, called myocarditis, is usually mild, but a handful of patients remain hospitalized.

www.nbcnews.com

Probably best it stays quiet then otherwise no one will get vaccinated. Deaths in very frail aged people, in Nursing Homes, in my thinking shouldn't be used as a barometer for the actions of the rest of the world.

 

[jb747]

Is there anyone in the country who doesn’t think Australia would be better off of Clive Palmer fell down a deep hole?

It wouldn’t be very deep by the time we finished pushing in all the others that we can collectively think of….

Re: anti-vaxxers - the government needs to announce at a certain point that they are fully opening up borders - hopefully shortly after there is availability for all adults to have been fully vaccinated - and then let the anti-vaxxers live (or fall ill) based on their irrational decision. Catering/managing risk by slowing opening up to lower the risk for anti-vaxxers is ridiculous.

Carrot and stick, otherwise it will stall, and the current situation will go on forever.

Carrot, you aren’t subject to any of the lockdowns or border closures. Stick, you cannot go into any public place in which there are more than two other people. No shopping centres. No stores. And especially, no dole office.

 

[jase05]

So it’s been debunked that Pfizer offered the government 40 million (or any amount) of doses in July 2020

When do we get the “we were wrong apology” from the Good Doctor Swan and the rest of the ABC gaggle?