The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[Batterytraveller]

Many of my fattier body regions have grown bigger over this past year but I put that down to lockdown related indolence rather than the recent Pfizer jab.

 

[dajop]

I don’t want censorship either, but this ability to publish information with no regards to facts is out of control. Journalists, from reputable places, used to take care that what they published was true, now anything seems to go.

Yes. Freedom of the press does not mean freedom of responsibility to check facts.

But it’s easy to forget we now live in the post-truth era where opinions (whether based in truth or not) are vastly more important than facts.

 

[mviy]

Good news: From tomorrow over 18s will be able to access AZ in NSW pharmacies.

Bad news: The two people in their 80s that are the latest deaths were unvaccinated and contracted the virus from household contacts.

Vaccination not only helps protect you, but also your household, family and friends.

 

[Pushka]

Good news: From tomorrow over 18s will be able to access AZ in NSW pharmacies.

Bad news: The two people in their 80s that are the latest deaths were unvaccinated and contracted the virus from household contacts.

Vaccination not only helps protect you, but also your household, family and friends.

That’s the reality that UK knew about all along. Why oh why didn’t they get vaccinated.

 

[mviy]

Australian visas for pharmacists to be fast-tracked to support troubled vaccine rollout

The decision comes as thousands of pharmacies across Australia are invited to help accelerate the nation’s vaccine rollout.

www.sbs.com.au

 

[mviy]

Yesterday's numbers have been released. We now have 16.7% (over 1/6) of the 16+ population fully vaccinated!

Every age group 70-74 and up is over 1/3 fully vaccinated.

Over 1/7 of every age group 40-44 and up is fully vaccinated.

ACT joins NT in having over 50% of 70+ population fully vaccinated.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

 

[Flying mermaid]

And we now have a weekly total of 1,101, 340

 

[bcworld]

An interesting question is whether Victoria looking at NSW will now prioritise the people in critical industries/historical super spreader spots for vaccination

One of the 'TV epidemiologists' (McLaws?) has I think previously (well before this situation) suggested that the 20-39 cohort should have been prioritised as they are the biggest spreaders. So I think that would still mean, vaccinate the 'at risk', and then vaccinate the spreaders before e.g. the 40-60 group. I'm not sure how age correlates with workers in critical industries (going to guess many are in that group)...anyway, it seems sensible the program gets more targeted.

 

[mviy]

An interesting question is whether Victoria looking at NSW will now prioritise the people in critical industries/historical super spreader spots for vaccination

They should have already had Pfizer (if eligible) or had first AZ 3 or 4 weeks ago by now.

Once we are swimming in vaccines there should be no need to prioritise though workplace vaccinations to make it as easy as possible to get vaccinated would make sense.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

They should have already had Pfizer (if eligible) or had first AZ 3 or 4 weeks ago by now.

Once we are swimming in vaccines there should be no need to prioritise though workplace vaccinations to make it as easy as possible to get vaccinated would make sense.

Honestly, the 'should have had it ' line that you repeat seemingly daily is having no effect.

Yes, you might have made a decision in similar circumstances 3-4 weeks ago, but not everyone may have that luxury.

From what I notice, some AZ hubs are having 1-2 weeks of queues.

Just in Sydney there are 300,000 construction workers - no idea how many other critical workers there are. NSW authorities indicated they can only vaccinate 350,000 per week.

 

[bcworld]

They should have already had Pfizer (if eligible) or had first AZ 3 or 4 weeks ago by now.

No because the thinking around and definition of 'critical' is changing. It has moved from being healthcare / aged care / intl. border to now potentially include high risk workplaces that must continue to function during outbreaks...logistics as a broad term.

 

[mviy]

No because the thinking around and definition of 'critical' is changing. It has moved from being healthcare / aged care / intl. border to now potentially include high risk workplaces that must continue to function during outbreaks...logistics as a broad term.

You don't have to be critical to have been eligible for Pfizer if in the 40-59 age group and anyone 18+ that wants AZ has been able to get it for about 4 weeks now.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Let’s focus on the positives here. Vaccinations are growing, pharmacies have been added, the hate campaign against AZ in the media is lessening. It’s the only way out and it is getting better.

I suggested in mid June that we could reach 40% first jabs by the end of July and 10 to 15% fully vaccinated. (Over 16 population). Even I thought I was being optimistic but we have smashed the fully vaccinated target and should achieve or slightly exceed the first jab target.

So let’s set a target for end August. (Once again over 16 population)

50 to 55% first jabs and 30 to 35% fully vaccinated. Will start to make a difference….

 

[mviy]

I also read that from Friday over 18s will be able to get AZ at the NSW state vaccination hubs as well. Hopefully that helps to increase the AZ utilisation there.

All NSW adults can book AZ jab from Friday

Five weeks into Sydney's lockdown, NSW is opening its vaccination hubs to younger adults wanting AstraZeneca jabs. All...

www.canberratimes.com.au

 

[RAM]

Boy you love a conspiracy theory don't you.
But you are totally wrong on this.The side effect of the AZ virus is TTS - thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome.Platelets are an essential part of the blood clotting process.So low platelet levels can cause bleeding but in TTS also blood clots.So it isn't surprising one of the deaths is because of bleeding rather than blood clots.It would still be recorded as a death from TTS due to the AZ vaccine.

No. I like full disclosure not selective, potentially misleading, disclosure.

When someone asks a question that does not suit your narrative you accuse them of 'conspiracy theories'. Not a good look.

Back to the official Australian Govt site. The TGA disagree with you and cite three serious side effects of AZ.

It clearly itemises three very rare but extemely serious side effects from AZ. It does not lump them together (as you suggest). It does not refer to any deaths from ITP which the ABC subsequently apologised for 'attacking' Ch 9's report of 2 deaths linked to AZ due to ITP - as unfounded, and stated the ABC had confirmed two people had sadly died as Ch 9 reported.

Who knows why the deaths are not shown on this page?

Perhaps it is as they call them 'reports' of effects and not 'cases'? Who knows but it is not full disclosure.

Similarly the weekly Vaccine Operations Centre Weekly Operational Update for 19 July is yet to be released and now so is the July 26th report. Still awaiting an 'official response'.

COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report - 22-07-2021

Information about the TGA's safety monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines.

www.tga.gov.au

Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS)​

Since the beginning of the vaccine rollout in Australia, a total of five deaths from TTS have been reported out of 6.1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. All of them were related to a first dose of the vaccine.

This takes the total Australian reports assessed as TTS following the AstraZeneca vaccine to 87 cases (53 confirmed, 34 probable) from approximately 6.1 million vaccine doses.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)​

ITP is difficult to diagnose because, unlike TTS, it does not have unique identifying features if it occurs after vaccination. There is no specific test that confirms ITP, so doctors rely on excluding other causes of thrombocytopenia.

To 18 July 2021, the TGA has received 34 reports of suspected ITP following vaccination. These patients had an extremely low platelet count, and signs of thrombocytopenia including unusual bruising, a nosebleed and/or blood blisters in the mouth. These symptoms occurred in a timeframe that suggested they could be linked to vaccination and no other obvious cause was identified based on the information provided to TGA.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)​

GBS is a rare immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks nerve cells. What causes it is not fully understood, but it often follows a viral infection or a bacterial type of gastroenteritis. GBS causes nerve inflammation and can result in pain, numbness, muscle weakness and difficulty walking. In many cases it resolves within months but can sometimes take up to two years.

To 18 July 2021, the TGA has received 61 reports of suspected GBS in people who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine. A possible link between GBS and the AstraZeneca vaccine remains under investigation and we are seeking expert advice on the results of a detailed evaluation.

 

[RAM]

They should have already had Pfizer (if eligible) or had first AZ 3 or 4 weeks ago by now.

Once we are swimming in vaccines there should be no need to prioritise though workplace vaccinations to make it as easy as possible to get vaccinated would make sense.

NSW has declined to receive over 600,000 doses of AZ (now from two weeks back or so) as they had no demand, so this was around 10 or 11th July. The State Govt can ask to get them with just a phone call.

So Sydney could be swimming in doses of AZ. In addition there are some millions that all the other States have declined. Otherwise , to have them sitting in a State's storage looks bad for the figures. There is no shortage of AZ, so if the Premier or Brad Hazzard were being straight with the community this would be made very clear.

There is though major shortages (due to no forward planning by Fed/State):

• Processing of CV tests within NSW
• Vaccination capacity
• Contact tracing capacity - with 550 now (many taken from Transport for NSW) the average delay in 'venues of concern' being listed is approaching 7 days, with the range 13 to 2 days predominantly.

The State Govt followed the Federal Govt line of outsourcing to the private sector. The private sector did not want to spend money on additional testing capacity in case there was a future outbreak - in case there wasn't and they lost money. So with the wonderful response to testing with numbers in the 70s, 80s and now over 100 thousand daily tests - the processing capacity within NSW can only handle around the mid 60 thousand daily.

So wait times (for one well known private provider especially) have blown out. Laverty is flying tens of thousands of doses inter-state for testing, but the delay is now acknowledged to be around 72 hours (on average). Thank you Brisbane processing facilities!

So workers in the LGAs required to test every three days (the reason for this surge from low 60s to over 100,000 mostly) are now going to get tested for their next 3rd day test before the results from the prevous test has come through.

Adding Pharmacies will increase vaccination capacity but given the extremely infectious nature of the Delta strain - is this akin to the difference between dedicated quarantine facilities & tourist hotel quarantine facilities?

The reason I ask is that in Sydney, without doing a detailed count, it appears that Chemists are now approaching the #1 most likely place to have been visited by a CV+ person.

 

[MooTime]

I suggested in mid June that we could reach 40% first jabs by the end of July and 10 to 15% fully vaccinated. (Over 16 population). Even I thought I was being optimistic but we have smashed the fully vaccinated target and should achieve or slightly exceed the first jab target.

So let’s set a target for end August. (Once again over 16 population)

50 to 55% first jabs and 30 to 35% fully vaccinated. Will start to make a difference….

Well done on the successful guess. Nice One.
I won't guess as it's a real dart throw & my dart skills are terrible.

But gee I'd be happy to see a 3rd fully vax'd. could say that's near half way of what we could realistically expect.
Maybe until the carrots start to get dangled.

 

[oznflfan]

One bright point personally, Sydney and sad state of affairs on the East Coast has weakened my wife's semi anti-vax resolve.

Think I'll be able to get her vaccinated soon, she won't be happy but understands the risks I am telling her daily. Luckily we can just wander down to government COVID centre and get Pfizer same day. Got mine day the opened 17th May + second 3 weeks later.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Well done on the successful guess. Nice One.
I won't guess as it's a real dart throw & my dart skills are terrible.

But gee I'd be happy to see a 3rd fully vax'd. could say that's near half way of what we could realistically expect.
Maybe until the carrots start to get dangled.

View attachment 254101

I love numbers, so have been doing back of the envelope calculations, heavily salted with optimism. Really hope I am right again…..