The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[MooTime]

Mrs Moo just booked in for Pfizer at local GP.
She received message on her phone (out of nowhere as never mentioned covid vax to GP) that they have received Pfizer doses & seem to be jabbing (if that's a word) on weekends only it seems. Maybe easier for many. Offering to their patients on their books.

Booked both doses 3 weeks apart.

tick under 40yo, but healthcare worker.

 

[Lynda2475]

Going to the city during a lockdown is not convenient

And only one of the hubs in in the city

 

[mviy]

There is 30%+ first doses given for every 5 year age group from 40+ and over 10% second doses for every 5 year age group from 40+ as well.

Every age group 70+ has over 25% second doses now with the overall 70+ second dose figure 29.15% an increase from 27.88% the day before.

Over the weekend we should reach 75% first doses overall for 70+

With Pfizer deliveries ramping up to a higher level shortly things are looking up. Hopefully the government can get deliveries accelerated even more.

 

[Princess Fiona]

AZ induced TTS has led to multiple hospital admissions, multiple ICU admissions and 2 (and a 3rd under investigation) deaths in Australia. No ICU or deaths recorded due to myocarditis/pericarditis from Pfizer. So as a woman in particular Pfizer is safer (and still what is recommended as first choice).

It is recommended as the preferred vaccine in under 60.
AZ is able to be administered to anyone 18 years and above providing they do not have a contraindication and provide informed consent.

The mess we are now facing in Greater Sydney and now Victoria and possibly QLD is because a 60 year old frontline border worker was unvaccinated.

It’s time to stop the anti-AZ narrative. Stop scaring people.
Everyone that is able to should book an appointment with their GP and have an informed discussion about their options.

 

[mviy]

The PM has just said that yesterday set a new record daily vaccination total.

 

[Flying mermaid]

The PM has just said that yesterday set a new record daily vaccination total.

Yes 175,000 - nothing like an outbreak to get vaccinations up . Running total for the week 935,000

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Under workplace programs private employers engage private heath care providers to come onsite and vaccinate all staff. This is not on the plan.

It certainly is in Frewen's Planning. You somehow see to have missed it, though there are posts on it in this thread plus wide media coverage..

6th July

Australian workers could receive the vaccine in the office by September, the head of Australia‘s Covid vaccination rollout says.​

​

​

“Around September and October, when we have greater access to the vaccines, that’s when workplace vaccination can open up” Lieutenant Frewen told reporters.​

It was also discussed as part of the meeting that Frewen had with Australia's Leading CEO's not long ago, along with many other ideas on how to get more Australian's vaccinated.

Nope, your examples are actually state run hubs and pop-ups not workplace programs.

They were programs to vaccinate workers in their workplace = a workplace vaccination program

And just to be crystal clear the Victorian State Run Age Care Facility Workers (ie not all the private and NFP aged care facility workers who went to the State Run Hubs) were all vaccinated in their workplaces in a workplace vaccination program for them.

Hubs and workplace programs administer huge volume of doses a day (efficient, less wastage due to constant demand) and are conveniently located for people of worker age to get in and out.

Chemist Warehouse just by itself administers vaccines already at 260 locations throughout Australia for the flu, whooping cough, measles, mumps & rubella (MMR) and meningococcal. So they administer huge volume of doses a day (efficient, less wastage due to constant demand THOUGH THIS NOT REALLY A VALID ARGUMENT WITH ANY PLACE UNLESS THEY ONLY DO PARTIAL AMOUNT OF VACCINES) and are conveniently located for people of worker age to get in and out. And not only that they are also location at 260 locations. They also have a program for employers to do vaccinations through them.

And they are but one but pharmac_ chain.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Yes 175,000 - nothing like an outbreak to get vaccinations up . Running total for the week 935,000

And an amazing 99 thousand of those were through the GP (and Pharmacists as well now to some extent) Channel. This was up from the 94,412 achieved the day prior.


The NSW GP Channel at 41,597 did even more than they achieved yesterday ( 39,171)

 

[jakeseven7]

A dozen or so of our large primary care clinics are starting Pfizer jabbing on Monday with great dose allocations from the Feds which is brilliant news. They seem to be ironing out the supply chain. FINALLY.

AZ is actually firing as well, as people start realising and understanding the risk equation much better, with the assistance of a consult.

They have a lot of people on waiting lists for Pfizer who don’t want to go to the big state vaccination hubs for many reasons - location, mobility issues, needle phobia, desire for a consult, language skills, convenience etc etc

Also there are rumours Feds will be funding a weekend rebate premium to encourage weekend openings. I believe states that don’t open their mass vax hubs on weekends are being asked politely to reconsider that….

 

[maia200]

What the Federal Govt has failed to answer is where did all the weeks of Pfizer supply get injected as it certainly still hasn't made it into all Group 1A Aged & Disability Care residents & workers. The Disability sector is still unable to find available Pfizer doses.

I tried today as I found it hard to believe given all the publicity, so I went through the questions etc but ticked disability care worker and at the nearest State sites got the message "No appointments available within 60 days, try another available location in the dropdown box".

Trouble is there were no locations shown in the dropdown box.

Glad I'm not a disability worker.

I'm not sure what the procedure is in NSW, but in QLD for 1A and 1B, you need to register on the Queensland Health site AND THEN phone Queensland Health to make your booking. There were no bookings available for me online at any hospitals within about 1 1/2hrs away, however when I phoned (and got lovely booking staff) they were able to almost give me a choice of dates and a couple of hospitals but it does not make it easy to book and is not really 'online'.

 

[burmans]

Yes 175,000 - nothing like an outbreak to get vaccinations up . Running total for the week 935,000

Got to say I’ve been a little bit disappointed actually. Yes GP numbers are up hugely which is great but flattish or even dropping slightly in state numbers. If current circumstances won’t persuade people to vaccinate what will!

 

[Lynda2475]

It certainly is in Frewen's Planning. You somehow see to have missed it, though there are posts on it in this thread plus wide media coverage..

I'm more aware than aware that our corporates lobbied Frewen for a meeting, I posted it about it well before you. He did not reach to seek ideas, he was forced to take the meeting because there was a clear oversight in the existing plan.

However, it is still not on the formal plan at all - zero allocation made for workplace porgrams on the official horizon chart.

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/06/covid-19-vaccination-covid-vaccination-allocations-horizons-covid-19-vaccination-covid-vaccination-allocations-horizons-19-june-2021.pdf

And just to be crystal clear the Victorian State Run Age Care Facility Workers (ie not all the private and NFP aged care facility workers who went to the State Run Hubs) were all vaccinated in their workplaces in a workplace vaccination program for them.

No it was at their workplace as part of a state run program.

Chemist Warehouse

Given the number of their stores featuring as covid exposure sites best avoided. It is mpossible to social distance whilst you queue in aisles packed with cheap shampoo as sick people wander in for presecriptions and or to self medicate.

Absolutely, no comparison to the stress free experience of being vaccinated at the office.

 

[mviy]

Got to say I’ve been a little bit disappointed actually. Yes GP numbers are up hugely which is great but flattish or even dropping slightly in state numbers. If current circumstances won’t persuade people to vaccinate what will!

Well the Premiers are still determined to make it nearly impossible to catch COVID-19 by doing lockdowns. I think despite all that's going on many still feel that they are more likely to get struck by lightning than catch COVID-19 let alone get badly ill or die from it.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Got to say I’ve been a little bit disappointed actually. Yes GP numbers are up hugely which is great but flattish or even dropping slightly in state numbers. If current circumstances won’t persuade people to vaccinate what will!

I think a few weeks ago you were expecting numbers to start dropping again. One good thing about the Sydney debacle is that hasn’t happened and numbers are up slightly. Let’s see what happens as vaccine supply increases next month.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Absolutely, no comparison to the stress free experience of being vaccinated at the office.

Given that you said you are worried about now, how actually are you going to manage that with work at home restrictions?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

No it was at their workplace as part of a state run program.

It was special initiative for their workplaces. The Victorian Government operates the most publicly run aged care homes in Australia with 179 aged care facilities. Most states do not operate many public facilities. As it is responsible for its staff it decided to run a workplace vaccination program for its workers. A factor too was many were in rural and more remote locations. Most received their vaccination at their workplace. Those that missed out for various reasons such as being on leave, then had their vaccinations at whatever vaccination facility was convenient.

Whereas the staff at the private aged care facilities in the main have had to go to the State Run Hubs or GP Practice or RC as the Federal Government in the main chose to not run workplace vaccinations for the staff at private aged care facilities.

The private aged care facilities can be run for profit or not for profit. For-profit homes are owned by a diverse range of private family companies to listed entities such as Japara and Estia to large international conglomerates such as Bupa. The not-for-profits are typically run by church-based charities such as Anglicare, Uniting Care though other organisations like Freemasons also run facilities.


You do appreciate that it matters naught who the vaccinator works for? A workplace program just means that it is delivered in the workplace.
One can outsource it, or if one has the means it can be and is done in-house or by another division.

 

[Lynda2475]

Given that you said you are worried about now, how actually are you going to manage that with work at home restrictions?

No right now Pfizer should be exclusive to mass vax centres. Then when supplies increase, workplace programs should be given allocation.

workplace program just means that it is delivered in the workplace

No it doesnt, it means a program organised by the employer (not the state health dept), delivered at a workplace for the exclusive use by employees. Any program run by state health dept is a state program.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

No it doesnt, it means a program organised by the employer (not the state health dept), delivered at a workplace for the exclusive use by employees. Any program run by state health dept is a state program.

And with public aged care in Victoria, the Victorian Government is the employer and it arranged workplace vaccinations for its staff.

 

[Flying mermaid]

ACT will be allowing 30 to 39 year olds to register an expression of interest to be vaccinated - starting Wednesday. When more Pfizer is available appointments will be made.

 

[mviy]

ACT will be allowing 30 to 39 year olds to register an expression of interest to be vaccinated - starting Wednesday. When more Pfizer is available appointments will be made.

Looking at the figures the ACT has much higher than average vaccination rates. In fact their first dose rates are the highest in the country and the second dose rates are only beaten by the NT. This would suggest that the NT has been given relatively more Pfizer than the ACT, presumably because of the NT's significant vulnerable population.

I think there'll be a longer wait in VIC and NSW for Pfizer to be opened up. My GP still has a long wait before it will get some and presumably then they'll start with the older priority age groups that haven't sourced it elsewhere.

I also wonder whether there'll be a change to deliver second Pfizer doses after 6 weeks to try and get more first doses delivered.