The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[mviy]

news.com.au article highlighting comments from PM on 2GB

You can read the transcript of the interview at Interview with Chris Smith, 2GB | Prime Minister of Australia

 

[mviy]

The Herald Sun has a story “Top doctor says AstraZeneca vaccine advice wrong, jab should be given to everyone”: "AstraZeneca jabs should be given to everyone, according to an expert who says the nation has almost no chance of eliminating Delta."

It’s behind a paywall, so not sure what it says.

Looks like it's also at the Daily Mail: Top doctor calls for restrictions on AstraZeneca jab to be scrapped

"Australia has a 'close to zero' chance of eliminating the Delta variant of Covid and it must quickly vaccinate with the AstraZeneca jab, a top doctor warns.

Professor Bruce Robinson, chairman of the National Health and Medical Research Council, called for a rapid vaccine rollout in the face of snowballing outbreaks in Queensland and NSW.

Professor Robinson believes all restrictions on the AstraZeneca vaccine should be scrapped as there aren't enough doses of Pfizer to go around."

Professor Robinson is the outgoing chairman, so perhaps like Nick Coatsworth he's feeling greater freedom to speak his personal views now.

 

[Deleted member 74239]

It does. And if you and I can do such calculations, the federal government should be able to as well (with even more accuracy given knowledge of specific stock numbers). There is no reason why we can't say right now "Phase B is 1 Dec" and "Phase C is 1 Jan". That should be a pretty good motivator to those who are on the fence about a vaccination (or can't be bothered organising it). We know the stock is available to reach those targets, so then it's up to people to ensure they do it.

He may not hold a hose, but he can pickup a calculator.

Right. It took me about an hour (I’m slow) tonight to do a spreadsheet calculating when each State and Territory will reach the 70% and 80% targets, based on the current 7 day average of vaccination numbers. The federal government must know this (as you say, with greater accuracy), therefore the question seems to be why they won’t engage in a discussion about those timelines.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Right. It took me about an hour (I’m slow) tonight to do a spreadsheet calculating when each State and Territory will reach the 70% and 80% targets, based on the current 7 day average of vaccination numbers. The federal government must know this (as you say, with greater accuracy), therefore the question seems to be why they won’t engage in a discussion about those timelines.

I'm interested. What dates have you got for each jurisdiction?

May be one or two States (clearly Territories have no issue at the moment) didn't want to commit to a timeframe.

But the PM has said there is enough vaccine to make Christmas

 

[justinbrett]

Queensland has got much more rational about ACT’s closeness to NSW, but none of the other states are. I think Victoria, SA and WA have all declared us red even though it’s 13 months since we had a community case.

this week will be interesting with all the pollies back in town

I’m not sure any of that is rational. Covid is more likely to spread to Canberra than it is to Ballina. With both locations off limits to Greater Sydney, neither is likely.

 

[Lynda2475]

Covid is more likely to spread to Canberra than it is to Ballina. With both locations off limits to Greater Sydney, neither is likely.

The risk in Ballina comes from the Gold Coast rather than Sydney, as shown with the previous Byron Bay Hens party.

 

[TonyHancock]

In the US yesterday, as a non resident with just a passport I could get the Moderna, Pfizer and Janssen vaccine within an hour of booking and within 5 miles of my location and all at no cost. It does make me wonder? I know vaccinations are dropping off in the US but the Govt in Australia has some questions to answer.

I made a conscious decision in March 2020 not to return and I don't regret it.

Like it or not if we want to travel vaccination is going to be the way to do it.

 

[justinbrett]

The risk in Ballina comes from the Gold Coast rather than Sydney, as shown with the previous Byron Bay Hens party.

True, but I meant the risk of it spreading from Sydney.

I am currently in Brisbane in lockdown and as per the NSW health orders I will need to isolate at home for 14 days when I return to Newcastle. Regional NSW are now facing risks on both fronts.

 

[jakeseven7]

The risk in Ballina comes from the Gold Coast rather than Sydney, as shown with the previous Byron Bay Hens party.

Actually it’s from both and anywhere which has covid actively circulating.

 

[Pushka]

In the US yesterday, as a non resident with just a passport I could get the Moderna, Pfizer and Janssen vaccine within an hour of booking and within 5 miles of my location and all at no cost. It does make me wonder? I know vaccinations are dropping off in the US but the Govt in Australia has some questions to answer.

I made a conscious decision in March 2020 not to return and I don't regret it.

Like it or not if we want to travel vaccination is going to be the way to do it.

What benefits are there for you in the US to get vaccinated there? Trouble is Australia thought that we could stay Covid free so there is no sense of urgency whatsoever although maybe that's the silver lining in NSW. But in SA? Too much dithering from the oldies.

Annoyingly. We live in an apartment block. Hubby and I both fully vaccinated with AZ. But we both wear masks the instant we exit our door and use the stairs or lift until we get outside or into the car. We have 2 60+ neighbours who refuse to get AZ and are waiting for Pfizer. Saw them try use the lift last night collecting my Uber eats downstairs. I am wearing a mask. They were not. I knew the lift had broken down yesterday so had used the fire stairs. They had a trolley full expecting to use the lift. As I ducked into the fire stairs, mask on, I said they had to take the stairs. I thought it was karma.

 

[justinbrett]

Actually it’s from both and anywhere which has covid actively circulating.

The difference is people in Greater Sydney can’t travel to NNSW but, once the lockdown is lifted, SEQ residents can visit NNSW for non essential purposes. Also NNSW essential workers could bring it back from SEQ if they hold border passes.

 

[openseat]

Queensland is going to be a huge problem in the vaccine rollout. Even with the current problems there is hardly any rush to get people vaccinated, to encourage them to come forward and even consider AZ.
This is part of the larger problem of Queensland Health which has insisted positive cases move from HQ to hospital. It is from these health settings, where infection control seems to be so laughably bad, that the leaks occur (remember the receptionist just outside the Covid ward). Nothing will change with a Howard Springs style quarantine.
Both elements could unleash a disaster on an unvaccinated population - ripe for quick spread.

The politics is, as usual, deflection and blame. No accountability.

 

[jakeseven7]

The difference is people in Greater Sydney can’t travel to NNSW but, once the lockdown is lifted, SEQ residents can visit NNSW for non essential purposes. Also NNSW essential workers could bring it back from SEQ if they hold border passes.

Oh yes I forgot people obeyed rules all the time and mistakes never happen. Got it

 

[justinbrett]

Oh yes I forgot people obeyed rules all the time and mistakes never happen. Got it

I did say above the risk is on both fronts.

But right now the legal risk is more likely than the illegal one.

 

[TonyHancock]

What benefits are there for you in the US to get vaccinated there? Trouble is Australia thought that we could stay Covid free so there is no sense of urgency whatsoever although maybe that's the silver lining in NSW. But in SA? Too much dithering from the oldies.

Companies are requiring double vaccination with an FDA approved vaccine to meet on their sites. Plus I am gambling that to make travel to the US easier in the future an FDA approved double vaccination will remove barriers.

I am already AZ double vaccinated but it is not recognised in the US and in Europe some countries do not recognise this because the first batch I was vaccinated with was manufactured in India. I do fear that there will be a period when Australian manufactured AZ will not be recognised in some countries despite its excellent efficacy.

 

[Pushka]

Companies are requiring double vaccination with an FDA approved vaccine to meet on their sites. Plus I am gambling that to make travel to the US easier in the future an FDA approved double vaccination will remove barriers.

I just wish that other than Qantas, Australian companies would have the intestinal fortitude to start announcing plans to do exactly that come end of the year.

 

[jakeseven7]

Queensland is going to be a huge problem in the vaccine rollout. Even with the current problems there is hardly any rush to get people vaccinated, to encourage them to come forward and even consider AZ.
This is part of the larger problem of Queensland Health which has insisted positive cases move from HQ to hospital. It is from these health settings, where infection control seems to be so laughably bad, that the leaks occur (remember the receptionist just outside the Covid ward). Nothing will change with a Howard Springs style quarantine.
Both elements could unleash a disaster on an unvaccinated population - ripe for quick spread.

The politics is, as usual, deflection and blame. No accountability.

Yup and senior doctors up here have been saying this for months and months now. We have a very stubborn leader in this area (4 months left in their tenure…) who refuses to delegate, is extremely difficult to work with and they’ve been trying to manage around for almost a year now. It’s public knowledge.

Now we are second last in the vaccine rollout because of anti-vaccine comments and stances from multiple senior leaders, second last only to a state that barely counts as well. I’m really scared we are going to stuff it for the whole country

I did say above the risk is on both fronts.

But right now the legal risk is more likely than the illegal one.

Doubt it but hopefully you are right. PS welcome back from your holiday…

 

[TonyHancock]

I just wish that other than Qantas, Australian companies would have the intestinal fortitude to start announcing plans to do exactly that come end of the year.

My fear is that AZ manufactured outside of the UK/EU will not be recognised in some countries. The politics being created by big Pharma around the at cost AZ is disgusting.

 

[mviy]

So long as the UK accepts Australian manufactured AZ, I don’t care too much what the others do.

 

[openseat]

Yup and senior doctors up here have been saying this for months and months now. We have a very stubborn leader in this area (4 months left in their tenure…) who refuses to delegate, is extremely difficult to work with and they’ve been trying to manage around for almost a year now. It’s public knowledge.

Now we are second last in the vaccine rollout because of anti-vaccine comments and stances from multiple senior leaders, second last only to a state that barely counts as well. I’m really scared we are going to stuff it for the whole country

The problem is that there will be preventable deaths caused - yet will this person be held accountable for that? I hope that some of these senior doctors start speaking out - they need to.