The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[jakeseven7]

That’ll come when vaccination rates are much higher. Staying open and serving say 60%+ of customers is preferable to repeat lockdowns.

Yup and I’d much prefer to sit on a plane / in a restaurant / in a theatre etc surrounded by vaccinated staff and customers than chance sitting next to some moronic anti vaxxer.

Massive thumbs up from me for compulsory vaccinations and vax passports and businesses being able to screen out people who choose not to have the jab.

 

[Lynda2475]

Popular implies choice. Outside of the Commonwealth distribution until recently state run hubs had a monopoly on Pfizer.

The Commonwealth run RC's have always had Pfizer as has the aged care program, and now also GPs and Disability clinics, the states have never had a monopoly. Yet RC's (in the burbs just like pharmacies) have been less popular than state hubs, why? Dont let facts get in the way, or maybe you dont know what monopoly means.

You claim to be in favour of wide distribution channels then contradict yourself by supporting the limiting of access to Moderna to one channel.

The state hubs and state run school program (16-18) should get moderna, because they have capacity to give more mrna doses and directing doses away from hubs with demand slows not hastens the roll-out.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Just so there is no confusion on the equitable access to Covid Boosters for Australians let us quickly review the PM's two latest announcement on boosters.

Pfizer

The Morrison Government has secured an additional 85 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, providing access to additional booster vaccinations that will protect Australians in the future.​

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Through continued engagement with Pfizer-BioNTech, the Government has secured 60 million doses in 2022, and 25 million doses in 2023. Delivery will begin in the first quarter of 2022 and enable booster coverage throughout the year.​

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new supply schedule that the Government had successfully negotiated with Pfizer-BioNTech would provide every Australian with a booster vaccine if required.​

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“We have secured an additional 85 million doses of Pfizer, which brings Australia’s total Pfizer doses to 125 million,” the Prime Minister said.​

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“This is a significant shot in the arm for Australia’s vaccine supply. Every Australian will have access to a booster shot if it is needed.​

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“This will ensure individuals, families and communities have certainty about their continued protection against the evolving threat of COVID-19 over the next two years. We have turned the corner in Australia’s vaccine programme and this is another milestone on our pathway back to a normal life.”​

Australia secures additional Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 2022 and 2023 | Prime Minister of Australia

www.pm.gov.au

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Moderna

A total of 10 million doses will be dispatched to Australia in 2021, and a further 15 million booster doses in the first half of 2022.​

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Australia | Prime Minister of Australia

www.pm.gov.au

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So while details on the booster rollout program have not yet been released, we already know that as long as Moderna and Pfizer do not have any unexpected negative issues that there are actually more doses of booster ordered than is likely to actually be used in 2022 to vaccinate Australians with a booster even if they all need 2 booster doses in 2022. This provides robustness to the booster rollout program.

The ordering of two different boosters, one with easier cold chain requirements allows, will allow a booster rollout program to be able to be deployed across the country to provide good and equitable access to all Australians no matter how remotely they live.

 

[Lynda2475]

Yup and I’d much prefer to sit on a plane / in a restaurant / in a theatre etc surrounded by vaccinated staff and customers than chance sitting next to some moronic anti vaxxer.

Massive thumbs up from me for compulsory vaccinations and vax passports and businesses being able to screen out people who choose not to have the jab.

Agree but none of the governments (state or federal) are willing to introduce legislation for no jab no work outside of HQ, aged care and hospitals. And disappointingly (but not surprisingly) the unions keep lobbying against mandatory vaccination..

Private business should be legally allowed to discriminate against hiring and serving the non vaccinated. It's ridiculous that there are 1a and 1b workers who have chosen not to vaccinate despite having early access to Pfizer, time to lock them out of the workplace.

 

[JB expat]

That’ll come when vaccination rates are much higher. Staying open and serving say 60%+ of customers is preferable to repeat lockdowns.

Interesting to think about this - probably venue dependent. More expensive dining establishments probably cater to 35 years old plus. Pubs, bars etc probably skew younger. Those that skew on the "older" side could probably fill up now with vaccinated people...that is, if they were open.

 

[Lynda2475]

good and equitable access to all Australians

Only if there is more than one way to get that booster, otherwise access will not be easy nor equitable.

 

[mviy]

It’s also worth noting that it’s possible any excess Pfizer doses from the first 40 million doses could potentially be used for boosters if they haven’t expired, not just the additional order.

 

[JB expat]

Agree but none of the governments (state or federal) are willing to introduce legislation for no jab no work outise of HQ, aged care and hospitals. And disappointingly (but not surprisingly) the unions keep lobbying against mandatory vaccination..

Private business shouod be legally allowed to discriminate against hiring and serving the non vaccinated. Its ridiculous that there are 1a and 1b workers who have chosen not to vaccinate despite having early access to Pfizer, time to lock them out of the workplace.

I really think schools that have under 12's should have mandatory vaccination (again, for those who do not have a valid medical reason to refuse). Children are not eligible for a vaccine and Delta can hit them hard. I see this as a no-brainer.

 

[Lynda2475]

It’s also worth noting that it’s possible any excess Pfizer doses from the first 40 million doses could potentially be used for boosters if they haven’t expired, not just the additional order.

Except that next years orders should be a different (variant improved formula). The Moderna order clearly states the boosters are different from the initial 10 million. You don't take last years flu shot this year, you get the updated one, same for Covid.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

You claim to be in favour of wide distribution channels

I do not claim. I am.

then contradict yourself by supporting the limiting of access to Moderna to one channel.

There is no contradiction at all. I just understand that the person in charge of the rollout program wants all Australian to have convenient access to being vaccinated.

What I am supporting is a rollout strategy for Dose 1 and Dose 2 of vaccines so that all Australians gain access to vaccine suitable for them in a convenient way.

There is simply no need for individuals to have a choice of Pfizer and Moderna. As long as there is reasonable access to either, along with AZ that is all that is required.

However for the "tinfoil hat" brigade if they for non-scientific reasons prefer one over the other they can book into the channel they prefer. It just means that they may have to travel further, or may have to wait longer.

On Moderna there are only 10 million doses for dose1/dose 2. 5 million people. Given the cold chain limitations of Pfizer it makes great sense to distribute Moderna, with its much simpler through cold chain chain requirements to outlets that are convenient for people to get too throughout Australia.


As to what channels all the Moderna 25 million doses get processed through, that has not yet been advised. We just know that the first phase of Moderna distribution is through Pharmacies. Most likely as time goes by that will also go through other channels that service Australians in remote locations, or who have particular needs.

 

[mviy]

Except that next years orders should be a different (variant improved formula). The moderna order clearly states the boosters are diiferent from the initial 10 million. You dont take last years flu shot this year, you get the updated one, same for Covid.

There are reports that taking a third dose of the original vaccine is effective at increasing antibody levels.

Just like having the vaccine available to you for the first two doses is better than none, having a third dose of the original vaccine is better than no booster at all.

 

[moa999]

The state hubs and state run school program (16-18) should get moderna, because they have capacity to give more mrna doses and directing doses away from hubs with demand slows not hastens the roll-out.

Moderna and AZ have only been approved for 18+ in Australia.
Pfizer is the only thing 16-18yos can get.

 

[Lynda2475]

Moderna is given to 12+ overseas, it will likely be approved for 16+ here before all of this years doses arrive. Moderna has the least side effects.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Only if there is more than one way to get that booster, otherwise access will not be easy nor equitable.

And why would there not be more than one way to get a booster?

1/ Booster rollout program has not yet been advised
2/ Pfizer AND Moderna Boosters have already been ordered.
3/ The current rollout programs use multiple channels, and so it is most likely the booster rollout program when released will also use multiple channels including some that have only been used in limited ways so far (ie Workplace vaccinations will probably grow, and State Run Hubs will eventually disappear).


However again, the delivery program announced at present is for Dose 1 and Dose 2 Vaccinations. It does not yet include boosters. It is only the supply of boosters which is now in place.

The 10 million Moderna doses for use in 2021 are not boosters and are for Dose 1 and Dose 2 Vaccinations.

 

[JB expat]

Moderna is given to 12+ overseas, it will likely be approved for 16+ here before all of this years doses arrive. Moderna has the least side effects.

My over 80 year old mother had Moderna with zero side effects - and believe me, I would have heard if she felt lousy.

 

[Pushka]

Moderna is given to 12+ overseas, it will likely be approved for 16+ here before all of this years doses arrive. Moderna has the least side effects.

Heard the rep from TGA on radio just now saying that approval is likely in the next few weeks. Doesn't require extensive refrigeration either I believe.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Doesn't require extensive refrigeration either I believe.

The cold chain requirements for Moderna are much simpler than they are for Pfizer.

This is the very reason why of the two mRNA vaccines that it makes sense to distribute Moderna through a channel that increases the reach of a mRNA Vaccine to more people. To also rollout out what is presently a scarce resource with different mRNA vaccines at the one facility makes absolutely no sense.

The vaccination program's priority at present needs to be on vaccinating the greatest number of people throughout Australia as quickly as possible. Pharmacies and GP's are a key part of this.

 

[TonyHancock]

The vaccination program's priority at present needs to be on vaccinating the greatest number of people throughout Australia as quickly as possible. Pharmacies and GP's are a key part of this.

This is where the US does particularly well - there are 39 locations within 10km of my hotel where I can get a vaccination within 24 hours - plenty of large store pharmacies in there too.

 

[Lynda2475]

To also rollout out what is presently a scarce resource with different mRNA vaccines at the one facility makes absolutely no sense.

As there is not sufficient Pfizer to allow state hubs to run at full capacity it absolutely makes perfect sense to send Moderna there to allow them to deliver more jabs. Its stupid to under supply the channels that have significant unfilled demand.

You dont believe in vaccine choice, but we have choice in other aspects of our medical care i.e to choose to take name brand or generic drugs (or none at all), which flu jab to get, which doctor to consult, whic surgeon does your elective surgery, what dentist you see etc. Choice leads to greater adoption.

Making it harder to get moderna by omitting it from most popular vaccine venues helps no one.

Post automatically merged: Aug 10, 2021

This is where the US does particularly well

The USA also allows vaccine choice, they get why choice is important unlike some here.

 

[burmans]

As there is not sufficient Pfizer to allow state hubs to run at full capacity it absolutely makes perfect sense to send Moderna there to allow them to deliver more jabs. Its stupid to under supply the channels that have significant unfilled demand.

All channels have significant unfilled demand for Pfizer, that's what a supply problem means, this problem is not restricted to the state run hubs. And initially there wont be enough Moderna either.