The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[Lynda2475]

Pfizer access may be expanded to allow over 50s more broadly to take it late in the year.

Hopefully not until after the under 50s in 2B have had a chance to be vaccinated

 

[Flying mermaid]

It’s a totally personal choice, but just like I take a chance with a general anaesthetic, or with a DVT when I travel, or a terrorist attack in Nairobi, or a thousand other risks I take, I am quite happy to take the Astra Zeneca.

 

[mviy]

Hopefully not until after the under 50s have had a chance to be vaccinated

It would depend on the pace of the rollout, how quickly we can get Pfizer supplies, if Novavax is approved and when supplies of that arrive etc.

Under 50s in 1A and 1B can get Pfizer now. Once the exception groups (such as those worker in border control, hotel quarantine, COVID wards of hospitals etc.) and those in 1A and 1B eligible for Pfizer are closer to completion they will presumably start letting under 50s in 2A (which would be the remainder of 2A) get Pfizer too.

That leaves phase 2B; and phase 3 (if needed) to go after that.

Once hopefully international borders are planned to be reopened the need to get the vulnerable over 50s vaccinated with whichever vaccine they will take (if they haven't had it already) will become much more urgent. The risk to them would have to be weighed against the much lower risk to the healthy under 50s in phase 2B, and the kids in phase 3.

 

[Austman]

That certainly changes the relative risks vs the AZ shot does it not than comparing risk of death from motor vehicle accident vs risk of developing clots (& either surviving or dying). Understating the relative risks by a factor of 27 times = disinformation.

Even if it's understating the risks by 27 times, the comparative risks from a AZ vaccination shot still seem much lower.

So far, since vaccinations started on 22nd February 2021 there's been 3 confirmed cases of blood clots, to date (with 2 of them apparently recovering well)?

The TGA stated, on 16th April 2021, that for AZ that's a frequency of 1 in 295,000 (of 885,000 AZ vaccinations) and that the clot complications have appeared between day 4 and 20. So within 3 weeks.

It still seems very low risk to me compared to the risk from some other usual activities.

 

[louie-m]

Apologies if this has already been covered in the previous 56 pages, but does anyone know if there is a list of all the Respiratory Clinics administering vaccines anywhere?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Apologies if this has already been covered in the previous 56 pages, but does anyone know if there is a list of all the Respiratory Clinics administering vaccines anywhere?

I am not aware of one, but perhaps just Google “respiratory clinic” and put the locality and it should come up. That’s what I did to find my nearest one.

 

[Pushka]

Apologies if this has already been covered in the previous 56 pages, but does anyone know if there is a list of all the Respiratory Clinics administering vaccines anywhere?

Maybe try searching on HotDoc with your location as that’s where their appointments are made.

 

[drron]

RAM said:

"That certainly changes the relative risks vs the AZ shot does it not than comparing risk of death from motor vehicle accident vs risk of developing clots (& either surviving or dying). Understating the relative risks by a factor of 27 times = disinformation."

I did think that by now you may have realised why your comparison of AZ clotting events and driving accidents was way off the mark

First you don't go around and get more first doses of AZ vaccine so the incidence is indeed the number of cases per number of vaccinations.Time doesn't come into it at all.If you do develope VIPIT then you don't ever get the AZ vaccine again.If you don't get it with the first dose your chance of getting it subsequently is miniscule.

This is in stark contrast to motor vehicle accidents where unless you die you are almost certainly going to again get into a motor vehicle again so increasing your chances.More reasonable to have time come into the calculation.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Time for the weekly vaccination stakes update. In spite of a recent slow down, we continue to climb the rankings. As hoped we managed to get in front of Indonesia this week and have passed Jordan. We are now 78th out of 164, so have crept into the top half.

the next 10 days is likely to be slow until the new strategy cuts in. India is the next major country to bypass. They have done a huge number of vaccinations - nearly 130 million, but of course their population is also huge and they are battling a disastrous wave.

 

[louie-m]

Maybe try searching on HotDoc with your location as that’s where their appointments are made.

I am not aware of one, but perhaps just Google “respiratory clinic” and put the locality and it should come up. That’s what I did to find my nearest one.

Thanks for the suggestions. We're nomadic so can get jabbed anywhere. I was trying to find a quick way of working out what location options we have as hubby will be in the queue for his jab as soon as 2A is allowed to make appointments and hoped there was a list. HotDoc and Google it is though!

 

[Amanad78]

Hopefully not until after the under 50s in 2B have had a chance to be vaccinated

I'm in 1B and under 50 and can't get it in QLD

 

[lovetravellingoz]

It would depend on the pace of the rollout, how quickly we can get Pfizer supplies, if Novavax is approved and when supplies of that arrive etc.

Under 50s in 1A and 1B can get Pfizer now. Once the exception groups (such as those worker in border control, hotel quarantine, COVID wards of hospitals etc.) and those in 1A and 1B eligible for Pfizer are closer to completion they will presumably start letting under 50s in 2A (which would be the remainder of 2A) get Pfizer too.

That leaves phase 2B; and phase 3 (if needed) to go after that.

Once hopefully international borders are planned to be reopened the need to get the vulnerable over 50s vaccinated with whichever vaccine they will take (if they haven't had it already) will become much more urgent. The risk to them would have to be weighed against the much lower risk to the healthy under 50s in phase 2B, and the kids in phase 3.

Yes no guarantees on who gets Pfizer. Currently 40 million doses contracted. That may well be just 10 million people if the Feds decide to reserve that for 2 first doses, booster doses then a dose at 12 months (ie 4 doses all up).

2b has about 8 million people in it.

If AZ take up remains low then that means that a large chunk of the population may have to settle for Novavax or another vaccine.

Alternatively Feds may obtain more Pfizer too.

So no real way of knowing at present. who will get what.


Also the other scenario that may happen if AZ remains vaccinations remain low is that you get a large chunk of the population not vaccinated, but who are more at risk from Covid, but the younger cohorts vaccinated with Pfizer but who were less at risk in the first place. If that happens then Australia would be most unlikely to open up to the world anytime soon as just too many vulnerable people will be out and about.

So the Feds will be desperately hoping that the AZ take up rate improves as otherwise they are going to be in the awkward position of having in the main vaccinated the less at risk.

The Feds probably have a fairly pliable cohort in Aged Care Facilities most of whom should be vaccinated within a month, but those not in the facilities may not be as compliant. The next 3 weeks or so should tell the tale.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Apologies if this has already been covered in the previous 56 pages, but does anyone know if there is a list of all the Respiratory Clinics administering vaccines anywhere?

What state are you in?

Certainly in Vic if you are eligible and especially if are ok with AZ you can get vaccinated very quickly at present (ie see below).

Even Pfizer depending if you are eligible for it, but that still requires to be invited I believe.

The three new mass hubs even take walk-ins (for AZ) , though they prefer people book. See details at High-volume vaccination centres | Coronavirus Victoria or you can go to many GP Clinics.

High-volume vaccination centre wait times ​

This provides an indication of wait times for walk ins during opening hours at each site. These times do not apply if you have an appointment. This is updated regularly.

• Carlton, Royal Exhibition Building – wait time: 15 minutes
• Heidelberg Heights, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital – wait time: 15 minutes
• Melbourne CBD, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre – wait time: 15 minutes
• Norlane (Geelong), Former Ford Factory – wait time: 15 minutes
• St Albans, Sunshine Hospital – wait time: 15 minutes

You can book an appointment at the high-volume centres by calling 1800 675 398.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I had no idea they were taking walk ins. Last I recall they were begging people to stay away. Word needs to get out, though I wonder if they're being quiet to avoid the obvious rush that will follow

 

[jakeseven7]

I had no idea they were taking walk ins. Last I recall they were begging people to stay away. Word needs to get out, though I wonder if they're being quiet to avoid the obvious rush that will follow

Well they are definitely having an effect, VIC had it's highest vaccination day for over 2 weeks yesterday.

 

[jakeseven7]

Victoria unveils three more mass vaccination hubs, over-50s able to get COVID shot from May 3​

Three more mass vaccination sites will open – in Heidelberg, Sunshine and Ballarat – from Friday, as thousands of Victorians are set to become eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination following a national cabinet decision.

A decision out of Thursday’s meeting of national cabinet has also brought forward the date for all Australians over 50 to receive the vaccine.

From May 3 any Victorian over 50 can receive an AstraZeneca vaccine at any of Victoria’s six mass sites. GPs will be able to give the vaccine to all over 50s from May 17.

State unveils three more vaccine hubs, six Victorians linked to NSW quarantine scare

Three more mass vaccination sites will open – in Heidelberg, Sunshine and Ballarat – from Friday, as Victorians over 50 are given the green light to get the AstraZeneca vaccine from next month.

www.theage.com.au

 

[louie-m]

I found a link for the list of Commonwealth run respiratory clinics for anyone who wants a jab now or from 3 May if in group 2A - Coronavirus (COVID-19) GP respiratory clinics. That said, a quick look at where I am is showing clinics down as giving vaccinations when they are only doing tests and one which is doing vaccinations is not on the list at all, so don't treat it as reliable.

 

[mviy]

My over 50 friend in 2A will probably wait for the local GP. Considering travel to the UK won’t be allowed for months, a few weeks isn‘t going to make a big difference.

When my turn comes I’ll probably go to wherever I can get the vaccine first as it’ll be much closer to travel being allowed.

 

[louie-m]

I've got parents in the UK who are both 90 within a year. You never know when you might get a call to come home, so we're getting done ASAP just in case.

 

[mviy]

Ah, yes. If you're expecting there's a significant chance you'll both need to apply for an exemption to travel and will get approved that's very different and vaccination ASAP totally is the way to go.

In my friend's case and mine whilst we may consider travel necessary, it would seem unlikely a travel exemption would get granted under the current rules. So for my over 50 friend in 2A the inconvenience of missing more work would most likely outweigh the benefits of getting vaccinated a couple of weeks earlier.