The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[Lynda2475]

Of course, once they are thawed, that life decreases substantially.

Which is why should not be given to GPs and thawed unless there are firm bookings.

 

[jakeseven7]

Last chance for laggard Queenslanders

——

Last chance vaccination weekend begins in Queensland as state prepares for end of border restrictions​

Queenslanders without their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine have been warned “time’s running out”, with only days left to do so if they are to be fully protected when the state begins to dismantle its strict border regime.

Speaking on the Gold Coast on Friday, Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the border-hugging tourist region was among the areas lagging the state average and urged residents to come forward. Younger age groups are also being urged to get their jab, with those under 35 — who have had less time — also well behind.

Queenslanders urged to use last-chance jab days for earlier opening

Queenslanders without their first dose have been warned they have only days left to do so, as health authorities reported a third day without a new local case.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au

 

[jakeseven7]

NSW considers pushing back re-opening date for the unvaccinated as vaccination rates stall​

The NSW government is considering pushing back the reopening date for unvaccinated people in a last minute bid to boost the state’s inoculation coverage, with senior ministers now eyeing a potential double-dose rate of 95 per cent.

While freedoms for unvaccinated people may be postponed, the government will also consider moving forward some aspects of the road map that were originally slated for December 1, according to a senior minister.

Bondi Junction pub linked to COVID cases as NSW mulls delaying freedoms for unvaccinated

Senior ministers in the NSW government are eyeing a potential 95 per cent mark double dose rate.

www.smh.com.au

 

[mviy]

Which is why should not be given to GPs and thawed unless there are firm bookings.

That would unnecessarily slow the rollout. Having excess supply so that people have as short a wait as possible to get vaccinated is an important part of making it as convenient as possible.

 

[Lynda2475]

That would unnecessarily slow the rollout. Having excess supply so that people have as short a wait as possible to get vaccinated is an important part of making it as convenient as possible.

Not if some are throwing out hundreds of doses. Just in Time supply is a big part of logistics, in any other business you would receive a poor performance rating and be penalised for over ordering and having excess spoilage.

If you have a booking there is no waiting, so supplying only what a practice can use would not slow down anything. Whereas sending supplies to places that arent using them does slow down the roll-out. Imagine if those unused doses which were defrosted and then not used were sent to the hubs which had huge waiting lists, would have actually sped up the roll-out.

Any practice over ordering then wasting material amount of doses should be disqualified from the program.

 

[dairyfloss]

NSW considers pushing back re-opening date for the unvaccinated as vaccination rates stall​

The NSW government is considering pushing back the reopening date for unvaccinated people in a last minute bid to boost the state’s inoculation coverage, with senior ministers now eyeing a potential double-dose rate of 95 per cent.

While freedoms for unvaccinated people may be postponed, the government will also consider moving forward some aspects of the road map that were originally slated for December 1, according to a senior minister.

Bondi Junction pub linked to COVID cases as NSW mulls delaying freedoms for unvaccinated

Senior ministers in the NSW government are eyeing a potential 95 per cent mark double dose rate.

www.smh.com.au

Oh please, god, yes!

 

[mviy]

Not if some are throwing out hundreds of doses. Just in Time supply is a big part of logistics, in any other business you would receive a poor performance rating and be penalised for over ordering and having excess spoilage.

The government is not a business and is not running the vaccine rollout with a goal of minimising the number of vaccines procured to maximise financial profit. With a megaproject you don't just look at the iron triangle of scope, time and cost. The scope has changed, estimating the time the rollout would take is very difficult and estimates have changed several times and unexpected surprises have affected the cost of the rollout. One needs to consider if the community benefit means that what was done worthwhile. If vaccine wastage means that people get vaccinated sooner and more families don't lose loved ones early that is very worthwhile. Even one less doctor or nurse in an ICU ward cracking under the stress and quitting as less people are ending up in ICU is a significant benefit to the community.

If you have a booking there is no waiting, so supplying only what a practice can use would not slow down anything. Whereas sending supplies to places that arent using them does slow down the roll-out.

Some people like to book, others would like to just rock up somewhere e.g. to a pharmac_ and be told we have a dose spare and make a spontaneous decision to get vaccinated. It's giving people choice. Anticipating where the demand will be is not as easy as you think, but if you flood the system with more supply than what is needed then making an error in where you think the demand will be isn't a big issue as the supply is still there where the demand is.

Imagine if those unused doses which were defrosted and then not used were sent to the hubs which had huge waiting lists, would have actually sped up the roll-out.

But would those people have been concentrated in certain areas e.g. people living close to the hubs? It's no good vaccinating the people who live and work near the hubs and leaving the rest largely unvaccinated. Sending vaccines to GPs and pharmacies helps to keep vaccination rates more even in different geographical areas in the community. Once a GP has reassured someone that the vaccine is safe it's important to get the jab into that person's arm quickly and not have them change their mind.

 

[Lynda2475]

But would those people have been concentrated in certain areas e.g. people living close to the hubs?

The hubs are spread across the state and the state set up pop-ups where there has been a need for extra capacity or to fill a gap.

Curious what % of wastage do you feel is acceptable?

There is much room for improvement in distribtion that could reduce wastage and mean we can help more aussies and more of our neighbours.

Oh and the govenrment is very much a business and us taxpayers are the shareholders.

 

[jb747]

Not if some are throwing out hundreds of doses. Just in Time supply is a big part of logistics, in any other business you would receive a poor performance rating and be penalised for over ordering and having excess spoilage.

Which is one of the reasons that the worldwide supply chain is in the process of collapsing. 'Just in time' makes no allowances for just about anything...

 

[jakeseven7]

Which is one of the reasons that the worldwide supply chain is in the process of collapsing. 'Just in time' makes no allowances for just about anything...

Thank goodness for all the AFF accredited medical experts and supply chain logistic managers though to pass on such valuable commentary from the sidelines

 

[Lynda2475]

Which is one of the reasons that the worldwide supply chain is in the process of collapsing. 'Just in time' makes no allowances for just about anything.

Just in time is for the last leg, and does make allowances because it allows you to pivot and send stock to another final destination when it isnt being used/moved fast enough from others.

GP fridges are not the right place to store large amounts of mrna doses, as this dramatically shortens their useful life by 5+ months. You leave in the distribution centre in super cold storgae and only forward to a practice when they have known demand, you can send a couple fo extra doeses but shouldnt keep supplying them heaps more if they havent used what they already have.

 

[drron]

I just find the idea that a Government can run a business efficiently as just a little ridiculous.

 

[Lynda2475]

And if you have low expectations and dont hold them to account, you end up with gross inefficiency and misuse of public funds.

 

[jase05]

Thank goodness for all the AFF accredited medical experts and supply chain logistic managers though to pass on such valuable commentary from the sidelines

Yep, my career has been wasted when people on Internet forums apparently know more than those of us who do it for a living

 

[OZDUCK]

I am pleased to see a good result so far.

Surgeon-led legal challenge to compulsory vaccinations for health workers dealt setback

An attempt to suspend mandatory vaccination for Tasmanian healthcare workers receives a major blow, with a judge labelling arguments against the policy "remarkably weak".

www.abc.net.au

 

[Quickstatus]

prove you have appointments before giving stock, dont send hundreds of doses if they dont have hundreds of patients lined up.

Small operators should not be given more stock if they are throwing out material volumes of unused doses,

should not be given to GPs and thawed unless there are firm bookings.

Any practice over ordering then wasting material amount of doses should be disqualified from the program.

GP fridges are not the right place to store large amounts of mrna doses

What a load of crock!

GP practices who take part in CovidVax have to report weekly the following
1)remaining stock and batch numbers
2)expiry dates
3)wastage
4)amount administered

Max ordering quantity 600
Minimum ordering quantity 120
Ordering is fortnightly only

Lots of GP order LESS than what they actually end up RECEIVING. This is because they are supplied with a slight excess depending on stock. (Speculatively) Politically and practically it is better to have supply in excess of demand - at the coalface. No use telling the patients that the courier is 2 hours late. Hey, GPs don’t just go CovidVax!. They have other important matters to attend to as well.

So far GPS have done nearly 20 million jabs - about 56% of total jabs. Often bookings are last minute and often bookings move or are cancelled but usually the vagaries of supply and demand smooth out. We are coming to the end of the Vax program - at least for the 2Jab. So demand is waning and as a result there would be a higher possibility of wastage during that downward curve.

The assumption here is that wastage is PZ when in fact MOST of the wastage is actually AZ - due to the AZ scare campaign. And it does not matter where AZ is stored - in the distribution hub or GP Vax fridge.

Rather than demonise the GPs who have carried the majority of CovidVax program, give them a pat on the back.

In hindsight what the Govt should have done is to leverage the existing supply chains for medicines - pharmacists had that supply chain - use that supply chain to supply the pharmacists on a more frequent basis and the GP then do their ordering from the pharmacists . This was actually recommended to the Govt but they the bureaucrats were smarter than the community pharmacist/GP

So, no it was not the GPs, it was the logistics that was the problem. It requires the GPS to have a 2 week crystal ball from week to week and a 4 week crystal ball for waning demand when Vax rates are high. Then again which jurisdiction in the entire world executed their CovidPlan perfectly?

 

[jakeseven7]

Yep, my career has been wasted when people on Internet forums apparently know more than those of us who do it for a living

I know right! Me too. Especially the last few pages of this thread

 

[Quickstatus]

Additional GP ordering of PZ

If a GP puts in an online PZ order it arrives 2 weeks LATER. This I didn’t know. All this info and previous came from a practice manager friend.How is anyone supposed to be able to estimate demand with this system without wastage while ensuring anyone who wants a CovidVax gets one - when they want it. Bookings should extend to 1 month?. Sure and they do, but what also happens is bookings change often wildly.

While lots of people wanted PZ, it didn’t matter, at most you wasted 1-2/day. But now Vax bookings have dropped off with the 2Jab rates approach 95% even with the kids starting up. The Govt was working the media and also policy wise to maintain the momentum but at some point it will drop off.

So GPS started to ring their 6months old PZ patients to offer a booster - this started about 2 weeks ago.

Is it a race to vaccinate or is it not a race to vaccinate?. If we are all celebrating the acceleration in the CovidVax jab rate, then what do we say when 4 people instead of 6 arrive for a PZ injection and you have to open a new vial of 6jab PZ vial and there are no further bookings and it’s 4pm. Open or not?.
If open you waste 2 jabs - once it is opened it must be given or discarded within 1-2 hrs. If not you tell 4 patients to come back another day.

Compared with pharmac_ medicines order which arrives same day or next day.

It’s not the GP wasting CovidVax!

I must also say that the unsung heroes in this are the practice managers - they are the ones who manage CovidVax stock levels, organise bookings, and keep enough stock so GP practices can keep jabbing. (Among everything else they do)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Is it a race to vaccinate or is it not a race to vaccinate?.

It most definitely is. And without the GP Channel we would only be jogging.

Earlier on vaccinations could have been in a circus tent and those eager to get vaccinated would have turned up.

As we move through the population you then more and more get barriers to getting vaccinated slowing or preventing vaccination. Just some of these being:

• Distance
• Convenience- some people just randomly get vaccinated when the moment suits or just because they are passing by
• Time- many do not want to waste time by a special vist to get vaccinated
• Desire to speak with one's own doctor, or at a least a doctor
• Cultural and/or religious factors- ie some are more comfortable being vaccinated by someone who speaks their original language, shares a religion or ethnic group
• All sorts of crack-pot theories or misinformation - ie the AZ fearmongering, or the misinformation in say some Aboriginal or other ethnic groups
• Fear of government - some pf our migrants are very suspicious or even fearful of all things government, and so a state run vaccination centre is not where they will get vaccinated.
• Lack of urgency (ie Some states without covid cases)
• etc

As more and more people get vaccinated, it becomes more and more critical to have a variety of channels to get remainder vaccinated. ie Pop ups at cafes, churches and mosques, mini-vans to aboriginal communities and GPs and Pharmacists of the same faith/ethnic group as the person needing to be vaccinated.

GP's have been important throughout, and now that we are into the tail-end of vaccinations will be even more important.
In NSW only one third of doses have been through the state channel. Without GPs and Pharmacists they would not be in the very healthy vaccination status that they currently are.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

In Vic for Friday 30th October:

1st doses: 8,464
2nd doses: 49,972

So that is 17,623 second doses short of reaching 80%

58,436 does in total. The storms of Thursday night caused the closure of a number of vaccination centres . Through either damage or power outages.




So 80% second dose should be reached today.

Tuesday is a Public holiday in Greater Melbourne on Tuesday and many people take the 4 days off and many go away. So vaccination rates could be anything over the next 4 days. Most likely down. But who knows some may use the time to get vaccinated.