The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[lovetravellingoz]

Pregnant women are now 1b.

By Jessica Riga, ABC News

Pregnant women included in 1B of rollout​

Pregnant women are now considered a priority in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and have been added to Phase 1B.
It means that regardless of how old they are now eligible for, and can access the Pfizer vaccine.

Last month the country's expert vaccine group ATAGI and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) officially recommended that pregnant women be offered the vaccine at any stage of their pregnancy.

Previously, the advice had been that women should only consider getting the vaccine if they were at high risk of getting COVID-19 or if they had a previous medical condition that might make them more vulnerable to the disease.

The Department of Health's Lucas de Toca told a Senate Committee on COVID that doctors were told about the change to the official advice last night.

"Confirming the eligibility of all pregnant women in line with ATAGI's advice and the National Cabinet decision so that all pregnant women regardless of their stage of pregnancy and whether they are eligible for other reasons or not can access their vaccine through primary care channels," he said.

 

[RAM]

More privileges.......sigh, trying to jump the queue so tradies/constructions sites can work.

I'm certain across Australia the healthcare and aged care workforce are still way behind on a suitable vaccination rate. (no idea how the border workers are placed).

Reported the other day that the 'marine' border force workers (ports) were at 25%.

 

[burmans]

Interesting to see the media outlets approach differently.

The Age/SMH encouraging/supporting PM querying advice. ABC admonishing PM for questioning ATAGI.

This appears to be misrepresenting their message slightly. Our Westminster system of government means that while public servants give advice, the minister is ultimately responsible for decisions made. So querying of advice is expected, that’s just good governance. And even a cursory review of government would acknowledge they don’t always accept the advice given.

But the PM has gone a fair bit beyond querying here in a number of ways. He could have listened to the advice but after questioning taken a (either slight or large) different approach. But he doesn’t want to do this, cynically (but almost certainly correctly) as he doesn’t want to cop any blame. He could also have had this conversation privately with ATAGI.

The ABC criticism seems to be about the public and blatant political manner of the questioning of the advice. He just seems annoyed they aren’t giving the advice he wants and is trying to bully the public servants to change their advice rather than taking responsibility himself.

The alternative (which is clearly unappealing to him) is to make decisions on his own bat and stand behind those decisions when questioned.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Reported the other day that the 'marine' border force workers (ports) were at 25%.

And also confirmed here that those people have been eligible to receive a vaccine since day one on 22 February 2021

 

[jakeseven7]

Can't see it happening. Vaccines are the way out lockdown, and for those states that will be a higher likelihood of continuing lock downs and hard border closures. Libs will be anihilated in QLD/WA if that's the case.

Have you seen the vaccine rates in QLD, doubt we’d even notice - I believe we are still dead last, thanks in no part to our borderline anti-vax leaders!

 

[bcworld]

This guy is obsessed with Allen Cheng...although he does often reply once tagged:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1418443680768163845

 

[Batterytraveller]

Pretty blistering piece by former CMO Dr Nick Coatsworth on the undermining of AZ

Unqualified and dishonest: the ‘experts’ who undermined confidence in AstraZeneca will cost Australians’ lives

A section of the medical and scientific commentariat has peddled extreme risk aversion to Australia’s detriment. The most egregious examples have amounted to anti-AstraZenecism. It’s not academic freedom. It’s academic dishonesty - and it will cost lives.

www.theage.com.au

 

[mviy]

196,430 doses yesterday. So close to 200k

 

[Flying mermaid]

Pretty blistering piece by former CMO Dr Nick Coatsworth on the undermining of AZ

Unqualified and dishonest: the ‘experts’ who undermined confidence in AstraZeneca will cost Australians’ lives

A section of the medical and scientific commentariat has peddled extreme risk aversion to Australia’s detriment. The most egregious examples have amounted to anti-AstraZenecism. It’s not academic freedom. It’s academic dishonesty - and it will cost lives.

www.theage.com.au

The problem is the vast majority of people have no ability to untangle the morass of scary headlines and scaremongering, so will continue to be swayed.

 

[RAM]

And also confirmed here that those people have been eligible to receive a vaccine since day one on 22 February 2021

and also confirmed that they have not been able to access a Pfizer booking.

Released about an hour ago. Less than 34% of residents in Federal Govt regulated Disability Care facilities have been fully vaccinated with Pfizer, even worse, in total just over 50% have received their first dose.

This was all to be completed by Week 6 (over 4 months ago) by 4 private sector companies given $167.5m by the Federal Govt without any tendering process. None of those companies had ever been involved in vaccinations within Australia previously.

Remember at the Royal Commission the Federal Govt admitted they had decided NOT to rollout the vaccines to them as promised and as of the start of May 0% had been vaccinated. The Federal Govt then publicly stated that the Priority 1A Group would now be an 'absolute prioity'.

That was nearly three months ago now and nearly half are still to receive their 1st dose.

They also have been eligbile the whole time, but like everyone else they've been failed by Scott Morrison & Greg Hunt's lack of leadership.

Tragically one Disability Care home in Sydney is now infected.

BTW Australia has received over six million Pfizer doses. All of Priority 1A needed under 800,000 doses to be fully vaccinated - border/quarantine workers, CV facing health workers, Aged & Disability Facility residents & workers.

Stop victim blaming.

FAILURE of monumental proportions

 

[Must...Fly!]

BTW Australia has received over six million Pfizer doses. All of Priority 1A needed under 800,000 doses to be fully vaccinated - border/quarantine workers, CV facing health workers, Aged & Disability Facility residents & workers.

Stop victim blaming.

Who is victim blaming? You are only telling half the story.

If any of these people really wanted to be vaccinated by now, almost every single one could have been. That is an unavoidable fact, regardless of how poorly or otherwise the federal government has been able to deliver doses directly to these groups.

and also confirmed that they have not been able to access a Pfizer booking.

That is just a downright misrepresentation of reality.

All these issues are key to combatting the spread of the virus in Australia. We are all needing to play our part in getting back to some form of normality, and sometimes that involves us as individuals, particularly those who are more likely to encounter the virus than others, to take personal responsibility for our own health. And that of the community at large.

 

[Jmrocky]

Have you seen the vaccine rates in QLD, doubt we’d even notice - I believe we are still dead last, thanks in no part to our borderline anti-vax leaders!

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/07/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-update-19-july-2021.pdf

What data are you looking at?

 

[mviy]

Over 35% of 70+ population has been fully vaccinated.

Over 20% of both 40-44 and 45-49 age groups are fully vaccinated.

From yesterday's numbers 49.96% of NT 70+ population are fully vaccinated. That should go over 50% when today's numbers are released tomorrow, I think.

 

[RAM]

Who is victim blaming? You are only telling half the story.

If any of these people really wanted to be vaccinated by now, almost every single one could have been. That is an unavoidable fact, regardless of how poorly or otherwise the federal government has been able to deliver doses directly to these groups.


That is just a downright misrepresentation of reality.

All these issues are key to combatting the spread of the virus in Australia. We are all needing to play our part in getting back to some form of normality, and sometimes that involves us as individuals, particularly those who are more likely to encounter the virus than others, to take personal responsibility for our own health. And that of the community at large.

People in residential disability care are very often incapable of doing most activities you & I take for granted. Many never leave the facilities unless by ambulance.

You are saying they could go & "get vaccinated if they wanted to" = Victim Blaming.

The Federal Govt has committed to vaccinate them in-situ and has not done so despite saying a second time it would be done.

Facts are facts, even if they do not suit your narrative.

The Federal Govt are obviously rushing to get to the nearly half who have not even been given their first dose - a whole 90 were done this day.

 

[RAM]

Not the most positive news for AZ.

UK scientists back Covid boosters as study finds post-jab falls in antibodies

Exclusive: Waning antibody levels are possible warning sign of lower protection in months after vaccination

www.theguardian.com

The UCL team analysed blood from 605 vaccinated people mostly in their 50s and 60s. They found that antibody levels varied widely between patients, but a double dose of Pfizer/BioNTech tended to produce far more antibodies against the coronavirus than two shots of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Three to six weeks after full vaccination with Pfizer, antibody levels typically stood at about 7,500 units per millilitre (ml), but more than halved to 3,320 units per ml after 10 weeks.

For AstraZeneca, antibody levels peaked at about 1,200 units per ml and typically fell to 190 units per ml after 10 weeks.

Since publishing the results in a letter to the Lancet, the researchers have seen the same trend in a further 4,500 participants in the study.

 

[sjk]

Not the most positive news for AZ.

UK scientists back Covid boosters as study finds post-jab falls in antibodies

Exclusive: Waning antibody levels are possible warning sign of lower protection in months after vaccination

www.theguardian.com

The UCL team analysed blood from 605 vaccinated people mostly in their 50s and 60s. They found that antibody levels varied widely between patients, but a double dose of Pfizer/BioNTech tended to produce far more antibodies against the coronavirus than two shots of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

Three to six weeks after full vaccination with Pfizer, antibody levels typically stood at about 7,500 units per millilitre (ml), but more than halved to 3,320 units per ml after 10 weeks.

For AstraZeneca, antibody levels peaked at about 1,200 units per ml and typically fell to 190 units per ml after 10 weeks.

Since publishing the results in a letter to the Lancet, the researchers have seen the same trend in a further 4,500 participants in the study.

More to immune response than just antibodies, and even then it’s not always a case of more is better.

 

[mviy]

Unvaccinated people will be able to get fully vaccinated sooner in NSW with AZ.

They can have the AZ as soon as 4 weeks after the first dose, whereas Pfizer second doses will be given after 6 weeks.

 

[DC3]

Well, it’s all well and good quoting figures about how many have been vaccinated. How about all those who are still waiting, including those in priority groups.

As for NSW seeking some sort of priority allocation, the vax allocation should remain based on state population numbers.

 

[Flying mermaid]

As for NSW seeking some sort of priority allocation, the vax allocation should remain based on state population numbers.

That seems to be what was agreed at the Cabinet meeting today. While I am sure NSW would like all vaccine directed to them, all the states and territories are only one slip up away from a similar outbreak, so everyone wants the opportunity to get their populations vaccinated.

 

[mviy]

And you need several weeks to get fully vaccinated and get the full protection of the 2nd dose. So some of the benefit from vaccinating more people in NSW won’t be seen for several weeks.