The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[mviy]

For our yet to be fulfilled Pfizer orders (especially those due much later in the year) I hope they ship a variant tweaked version not the original.

That depends on when that version is ready and when it passes trials. Also whether the tweaked version will protect against older variants still present in the worldwide community.

 

[Pushka]

SA Health continues to not disclose daily vaccinations and only provide the total provided by them, and Federal Government. So on their daily update page on FB I usually put in their daily figure from Covid Live.

 

[Lynda2475]

That depends on when that version is ready and when it passes trials. Also whether the tweaked version will protect against older variants still present in the worldwide community.

Curious as to what the testing process is for tweaked vaccines as there has been much coverage that Pfizer/Moderna can be tweaked in a matter of weeks of a variant being mapped.

We tweak the flu vax every year, but we dont to my knowledge go back to square one doing multi-phase trails to test each years flu vax. There must be a faster path for verifying tweaks.

Looking at what is happening worldwide the UK and South African variants seem to be dominating, I wonder how much of the original wuhan strain is still about?

 

[jakeseven7]

Curious as to what a vulnerable are is?

1A and 1B aren't area based, they are based on age, job or existing health issues.

A vulnerable area is a clinic in a population area with a patient base that has a large number of people in the cohorts up for vaccination first.

All the PHN's know what this is and clinics tendered based on the numbers in each cohorts but there has been a GIANT stuff up in allocations resulting in some huge clinics with thousands and thousands of eligible patients getting almost no vaccine.

These areas also more than often overlap with minority ethnic populations and migrants who speak other languages and have mistrust of most government / healthcare systems but despite that often have a very close relationship with thier GP because of the nature of their conditions, alot of which are chronic.

 

[OATEK]

Well I am being vaccinated and work in hospitals but I'm being done in a GP practice in 2 days time. With AZ.

Beat you

As for calls to have vaccination hubs open 24x7, I don't see the demand to support this. The GP practice who did my jab today have plenty of vaccine, and free slots, but no queue out the door. And before people jump in saying they are all at work or something similar, the majority of over 70s (1b) would have no probleming finding a slot in the busy schedule if they were keen.

The GP argued that we have been too successful in suppression, and even without the clotting issues the community just does not see being vaccinated as sufficiently high priority. So we are in a catch 22 position; can't open the borders until vaccinated, with an overall week demand to be vaccinated and open the borders.

 

[jakeseven7]

Beat you

As for calls to have vaccination hubs open 24x7, I don't see the demand to support this. The GP practice who did my jab today have plenty of vaccine, and free slots, but no queue out the door. And before people jump in saying they are all at work or something similar, the majority of over 70s (1b) would have no probleming finding a slot in the busy schedule if they were keen.

The GP argued that we have been too successful in suppression, and even without the clotting issues the community just does not see being vaccinated as sufficiently high priority. So we are in a catch 22 position; can't open the borders until vaccinated, with an overall week demand to be vaccinated and open the borders.

I agree somewhat, I think there is a large % of Australians, possibly even the majority who just don't care about opening up and will be very relaxed about getting the vaccine. I really think there needs to be an incentive scheme to get them done.

However in general the vulnerable cohorts seem to be very eager to get it, understandably.

 

[Lynda2475]

There are lots of people in 1B under 70 because of health issues, many of them would have jobs. They may not need 24/7 but definitely need weekend and early (pre-work) and late (post-work) timeslots.

The reason why hospital hubs exist for Pfizer for front line workers in NSW (most under 50) is so they can fit appointments around shifts. And its why it makes sense to expand these for any eligible person under 50.

 

[mviy]

Curious as to what the testing process is for tweaked vaccines as there has been much coverage that Pfizer/Moderna can be tweaked in a matter of weeks of a variant being mapped.

I imagine it would depend on exactly what needs to be changed to the vaccine to tweak it for new variants. The more that needs to be changed the greater the chances of there being a problem with a new version of a vaccine.

 

[Pushka]

Beat you

As for calls to have vaccination hubs open 24x7, I don't see the demand to support this. The GP practice who did my jab today have plenty of vaccine, and free slots, but no queue out the door. And before people jump in saying they are all at work or something similar, the majority of over 70s (1b) would have no probleming finding a slot in the busy schedule if they were keen.

The GP argued that we have been too successful in suppression, and even without the clotting issues the community just does not see being vaccinated as sufficiently high priority. So we are in a catch 22 position; can't open the borders until vaccinated, with an overall week demand to be vaccinated and open the borders.

But it is their comments esp from Hunt saying that even when al vaccinated won't determine if the borders will open was the worst comment ever. Why bother?

 

[Flying mermaid]

which should therefore be switched to AZ freeing up Pfizer for younger people in 1A and 1B.

And the medical panel clearly doesn’t agree with you

 

[Princess Fiona]

There are lots of people in 1B under 70 because of health issues, many of them would have jobs. They may not need 24/7 but definitely need weekend and early (pre-work) and late (post-work) timeslots.

The reason why hospital hubs exist for Pfizer for front line workers in NSW (most under 50) is so they can fit appointments around shifts. And its why it makes sense to expand these for any eligible person under 50.

The hospital hubs operate Monday- Friday in office hours. At least the NSW ones do.

 

[mviy]

which should therefore be switched to AZ freeing up Pfizer for younger people in 1A and 1B.

People in aged care typically either have a cognitive illness or physical health problems. So using Pfizer for those in aged care is probably much more warranted than for the over 70 population living at home who are less likely to have severe health problems.

After the disaster of COVID spreading in aged care, I think it's understandable that a cautious approach is being taken there to use what is viewed as the safest and most effective vaccine that is approved for use in Australia.

 

[Lynda2475]

The hospital hubs operate Monday- Friday in office hours. At least the NSW ones do.

Explains why not getting all doses out then, however should be easy to expand hours at these venues. Hospitals open 7 days a week, vax hubs should too.

using Pfizer for those in aged care is probably much more warranted

Cant agree with this.

Using Pfizer for workers actually exposed to Covid risk (HQ, Airports, Covid Ward workers etc) is way more warranted imo. As is giving Pfizer to health compromised younger people who are at higher risk form AZ complications than older people with less responsive immune systems who can safely get AZ.

It wrong to assume that there aren't plenty of over 70s with dementia and other health issues living in the community, especially if they have caring family members helping out. They could actually be more vulnerable as they have more interaction with strangers, whereas sad fact is that most of those in aged care have very few interactions outside staff (who again should be a priority as this is the main way covid got into aged care).

 

[mviy]

Well people living at home still are likely to be earlier in their health problems. By the time they need care the condition has generally deteriorated. Whether or not it's warranted the PR impact of problems occurring in aged care again would be bad, so I would be surprised if they shifted away from using Pfizer.

Also as many aged care homes have already had the first doses done now, the logistics of giving second shot Pfizers in some places and AZ doses in other aged care homes would be more complicated than sticking with solely using Pfizer for that rollout.

 

[ethernet]

Many nursing homes bus their charges to Poker machine clubs. No reason besides tightfisted that they should not be bulk bused to a GP or vaccination center. Yes, I know, a social chat to the doctor is often important, sometimes in their native language.

OTOH many subpar nursing homes do not want to risk attention to other neglect issues. I'm sure some PBS reports by facility would be revealing. A large number of compliance reports have not been publicly released, and in one state, even the one page summary.

And a mobile vaccine bus - to enhance fulfillment in select high density locations, statistically likely to become hotspots.

Sincere apologies for needing moderation. Rephrase. The Commonwealth, states and the local GP network are acutely aware of special groups of persons needing targeted assistance, and making efforts to address statistical under-representation for targeted programs in selected postcodes with a history of needing supplemental assistance and or translations to other languages.

Working together is the answer. I only wish the PBS/ AIR would publish a daily tally, by %postcode, vaccinated. I sincerely doubt these reports will see light of day unless they are positive.

Meanwhile in Israel Israel vaccine data: How many have already been inoculated for COVID

1 in 1000 chance of getting it afer 2 doses in the take-home message.

 

[blackcat20]

The hospital hubs operate Monday- Friday in office hours. At least the NSW ones do.

Not sure what ours does but I was offered a 7.30am vaccination slot.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Vaccination Centres : In Victoria (I do not know exactly what other states are doing):

As the vaccination program continues to ramp up the approach in Victoria is to commission the high volume vaccination hubs away from the hospital hubs as they are more intended for the general public. Plus the plan is to have a wide geographic spread.

Many hospitals often are typically congested and carparking is often not very good at the best of times. So the last thing you want to do at a many hospitals is to add an ongoing stream of extra people who have nothing to do with the hospital coming and going.

The Heidelberg Repatriation (Austin) Hospital Hub is located at the Royal Talbot away from the main hospital facilities.

The Hospital Immunisation Hubs are being used to vaccinate eligible workforces in phase 1a or phase 1b by invitation and appointment only

So the focus has to been to find large sites with good carpaking, and in some cases with also good public transport links.

Exhibition buildings are in particular being used due to access and that they by their nature have large configurable spaces. Plus due to the pandemic they are under-uitilised.

The 3 latest, which will all be in operation tomorrow, in Victoria Royal Exhibition Building, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the former Ford factory in Geelong all have good parking, and two good public transport.

Two new high-volume sites are being established at the Melbourne Showgrounds and at the Mercure Convention Centre in Ballarat.

Community vaccination centres are also getting established in Melbourne suburbs like Prahran, Lilydale, Broadmeadows, West Melbourne and Deer Park, the state government said.

Mobile vaccination vans will also partner with local health organisations and workplaces across the state.

We have also seen mini-hubs at locations like Melbourne Airport to facilitate the pool of workers there in 1a/1b.


So you add the high volume vaccination hubs to the smaller community vaccination centres, combine with GP Clinics and the end result will hopefully be state-wide good coverage with flexibility for individuals to choose where they get vaccinated and also whether they want to to have it done at a GP Clinic.

Plus dedicated sites at the hospitals and airport look after the Covid facing workforce. And then the Feds are largely doing the aged and disability facilities.


The last point I would make is that at the Austin Hospital Hub (and this is probably the case at other hospital hubs) that the large draw on medical staff is causing shift challenges at the Austin Hospital for its normal operations. There is a lot of pressure on staff to work double shifts etc. This is manageable for a while and desirable to get all the medical staff vaccination but is not really sustainable, and so it makes sense to not expect the Hospital Hubs to transition to non-medical people and to have this staff problem as an ongoing problem.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Not sure what ours does but I was offered a 7.30am vaccination slot.

At hospitals with 24 operation (which is all the majors) the first shift change is at 7am. So a I think a number of the hospital hubs have early starts for vaccination as well.

 

[k_sheep]

So our hospital sent out a very bragging email last week saying all 1A and 1B candidates had been offered appointments, aren't they fantastic!

.... nope .... at least 3 departments (including mine) have come forward which have been entirely forgotten. Rolleyes. These are frontline departments too - they certainly didn't forget executive, admin, IT etc.

Sigh. Well now I'm booked in for a couple weeks' time.

 

[Princess Fiona]

So our hospital sent out a very bragging email last week saying all 1A and 1B candidates had been offered appointments, aren't they fantastic!

.... nope .... at least 3 departments (including mine) have come forward which have been entirely forgotten. Rolleyes. These are frontline departments too - they certainly didn't forget executive, admin, IT etc.

Sigh. Well now I'm booked in for a couple weeks' time.

I’d estimate a fair few of my frontline colleagues didn’t get appointments or they were completely at odds with what was offered.
Fortunately the hubs I know processed walk-ins

I was one of them