The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[jb747]

What flagship hub? I expect very few people have any idea about whether they can or cannot be vaccinated. Too young, too old, not sick enough. Too hard.

 

[OATEK]

What flagship hub? I expect very few people have any idea about whether they can or cannot be vaccinated. Too young, too old, not sick enough. Too hard.

Well I was wandering through Woolies on trolley duty, and a couple were on the phone in aisle 6 sorting out their shots and creating a jam near the tinned fruit. I reckon most 1b'ers have a good idea - after all its not rocket science.

 

[Pushka]

So now we have a real marketing problem to solve to get Australians to bother to vaccinate in a covid free country.....

Our government counterparts in VIC who are leading the country in getting the mass vaccination hubs open told us their flagship hub did less than 10% of its capacity on Saturday.... now I know it’s a weekend but still that’s pretty damn low.

Let’s all hope when the next phase begins there is a big surge in numbers.... they are ready to handle the numbers that’s for sure - those hubs alone can do about 15k a day in VIC at the moment with more planned...

Why would anyone younger bother being vaccinated? Can't see any value for them from the messaging of the Feds.

 

[jakeseven7]

What flagship hub? I expect very few people have any idea about whether they can or cannot be vaccinated. Too young, too old, not sick enough. Too hard.

Exhibition Centre

 

[Tiki]

Just think how much fun it will be sitting around watching the same old 3 days lockdowns over a handful of cases while our Instagram feeds fill up with Americans and Brits (and Israelis?) happily traveling all over the world in a few months!

There is no sense of urgency to get a vaccine as long as there is no reward for doing so. Open travel with home quarantine up and vaccines will be flying out the door.

 

[jakeseven7]

Just think how much fun it will be sitting around watching the same old 3 days lockdowns over a handful of cases while our Instagram feeds fill up with Americans and Brits (and Israelis?) happily traveling all over the world in a few months!

There is no sense of urgency to get a vaccine as long as there is no reward for doing so. Open travel with home quarantine up and vaccines will be flying out the door.

I think a good scare campaign is in order.... Border will open on date X. Tough luck if not vaccinated, as long as you were given reasonable chance to get it.

But that is a way off due to a few things, including an upcoming Fed election of course!

 

[mviy]

Indeed. I think a lot hinges on when the election is held. So long as the victor doesn’t make any rash pre-election promises, I think whoever wins will have to push for some level of reopening and other incentives to get vaccinated.

 

[Flying mermaid]

It obviously needs to be spelled out in words of 1 syllable. It’s totally obvious to me that until we have a large number of people vaccinated they won’t open up or allow travel, but clearly not obvious to the population.

I am still frustrated that with theoretically one week to go until 2A can start getting vaccinated the information has not officially gone out to the respiratory clinic here as to when they can do so. The booking engine also stills throws a hissy fit when I try and book for the 8th May and tells me I am not allowed.

 

[Tiki]

I don't know who controls the media but we need to get stories of happy traveling UK/USA in the mainstream media side by side with forlorn Aussie tourism operators shuttering up their businesses. I don't care what they say, domestic tourists who can take their own sweet time about visiting domestic sights can't compete with the foreign tourists who spend a fortune on long distance flights and have 2 weeks to cram in as many must-see/bucket lists as possible!

 

[Must...Fly!]

Exhibition Centre

I walk past on most days. Only ever seen two queues. One was a significant number of ADF personnel. Managed to peek inside today and a few oldies sitting around waiting their turn. I think word is slowly getting out but as is being said on this forum in various places, we need a paradigm shift in the attitude of the community.

Many people I speak to are hesitant to receive the vaccines. And these are not unintelligent people. Even some in healthcare/with known pre-existing conditions are not in any rush at all.

 

[mviy]

I would go today if they would vaccinate an under 50 in 2B. Seems a shame to have doses just sitting there when there’s plenty of people willing to get vaccinated that are not currently allowed.

 

[dajop]

I don't know who controls the media

Looking from the outside the Australian media is incredibly biased (as most the world over is). Not talking about left vs right bias which so preoccupies any discussion about bias, but bias towards sensationalizing trivia and terrifying people. I think 7 is worst, 9 not far behind. This is why there is a lot of vaccination hesitancy, throw in some conspiracy theories on facebook and no wonder it is difficult.

Take my mother and mother in law - two mid 70s woman, both intelligent, but one whose staple for life has been ABC (TV and radio), the other whose staple for news is 7, 9 and 3AW. Guess which one has already had her first shot of the AZ vaccine and which one is scared to get it?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

What flagship hub? I expect very few people have any idea about whether they can or cannot be vaccinated. Too young, too old, not sick enough. Too hard.

Which is one reason why the GP Clinics are a vital component of getting people vaccinated.

Hopefully pharmacists get added soon as well.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I think maybe we could at least start with some baby steps here. Maybe allowing vaccinated residents exemption from any state border restrictions.
Surely that couldn’t be too hard and would provide at least some incentive for people to take up the vaccinations?

 

[Lynda2475]

I think a good scare campaign is in order.... Border will open on date X. Tough luck if not vaccinated, as long as you were given reasonable chance to get it.

You cant reasonably make this threat do this until everyone has the option of getting a safe vaccine. Right now no one in 2B is not able to access any vaccine at all (no option to even sign a waiver for AZ). Plus, the vaccine actually needed by under 50s has not arrived in the volumes needed and there is nothing at all approved for under 18s.

we need to get stories of happy traveling UK/USA in the mainstream media side by side with forlorn Aussie tourism operators shuttering up their businesses.

This is already happening quite regulalry, have been a lot of artciles about how EU, UK and US can travel as soon as this summer once fully vaccinated. From this morning:

Americans can start dreaming of a summer holiday to Europe

A top European Union official says Americans who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 should be able to travel to Europe by summer, easing existing travel restrictions.

www.abc.net.au

 

[RAM]

But you suggested that AZ misrepresented the incidence by a facto of 27 when a whole year taken into account.
That as I pointed out is fallacious as nobody has a second first dose of AZ vaccine.

No, you are misreading what is posted.

I do not say 'AZ' has misrepresented - I say that some talking heads aka 'experts or politicians' have.

I have also said it should not be compared with annual figures BUT in an attempt to make a slightly better comparison (which is still not valid but slightly better) using the same (inappropriate) time frame requires that adjustment.

We agree & are both saying the same thing - it is inappropriate to make this annual comparison.

Even more so considering that the number of times someone may walk along a footpath, cross a road, sit in their house or ride/drive in a motor vehicle is (on avg) around hundreds of times a year... All with a probability of being hit or involved in a MVA.

To calculate a valid like-for-like probability comparison would be an extremely complex nCr probability calculation (2nd most useful item learnt in 1st Yr Uni - can be used to make money playing Pokies if > 17 machines available. More than paid for many dinners out for ten years or so while impoverished, but really aggravated one friend's mother....Or betting that 2 people in a room/group will have the same day/month birthday if there are more than X people. ).

 

[RAM]

Well done Victoria, streets ahead of the other states in mass vaccination. While the other states were screeching and arguing with the Feds, it appears VIC just went about and got ready anyway!

And yes vaccination tourism!

NEW QANTAS MYSTERY FLIGHT...
- Sip a drink at a collection of craft breweries, distilleries
- Sample the best restaurant, fashion and cafe culture Australia has to offer
- Explore stunning countryside, art galleries and street art
- And finally, wander down the river and visit an architectural award winning centre where a friendly resident of this state will say ‘short, sharp scratch’ to you!
- Return home knowing you are pandemic proof

Where is this mystery flight going to???

Qantas hangar? Next thrilling Q enhancement - don't put it past AJ! P1 passengers get priority queue & lay flat chair for 15 minutes in a parked A330....

 

[RAM]

Some big issues with Sydney is the poor traffic and the airport has a curfew. Melbourne makes a lot more sense.

Even if a facility is built the best we could hope for if it was green lighted now is that it starts to produce booster shots in about 12 months or so, so it’s not going to help with the current rollout.

With proper planning & preparation - things could & should be very different in Australia (on the vaccine front) for a number of reasons.

In fact there was an ideal facility, owned by GSK, on the market for just $75m in Melbourne last year. It appears that neither the Federal Govt nor any of its well-paid consultants considered this option, even though CSL knew it is entirely feasible, possible & happening elsewhere.

Read on.

Spoiler: Click for story..

A much shorter time frame is not only possible but has been achieved (from start to finish) by Germany in just over 3 to 4 months in Marburg for example. When you have switched on Federal & State Govt support things can get done quickly & effectively. Guess which large Australian vaccine manufacturer with a massive vested interest in NOT having a mRNA facility start-up in Australia - apparently provided the space in Marburg for Pfizer to use? If true then an agreement to produce the Pfizer vaccine in Melbourne would have been a non issue (see below). If true (as the article suggests) then that creates some very unpleasant questions IMHO.

Similar switch in production outcome in a small Austrian village as well (previously detailed).

Actual detailed planning, construction, preparation, installation, regulatory licensing & proving, although the article below has the article mentioning 6 months (financial close did not occur for 3 months after deal announced & they gained access in December 2020).

Frustrated experts say Australia could already be producing mRNA Covid vaccines if it had acted earlier

Scientists have been warning the government for months of the need to develop a domestic mRNA capability

www.theguardian.com

“Provided that these companies were willing to strike such licensing deals, local mRNA manufacturing facilities could now be up and running and producing an mRNA vaccine,” he said. (Pfizer/BioNTech has shown it is willing & has done a number of deals).

The manufacturing capability can be achieved relatively quickly.

Priess said in his hometown of Marburg, Germany, BioNTech had purchased space at a local biotech campus owned by CSL and, starting from scratch, had begun production of its mRNA vaccine within six months.

He said the Australian government should have at least included onshore mRNA production as a second option in its vaccine plan, given it would have required “only relatively modest investments”.

It does make you wonder why they didn't?

As it so happens there is/was an existing (regulatory approved & operatonal) pharmaceutical site available in Melbourne seemingly with state of the art packaging systems for vaccines (which CSL is lacking & the main cause of its vaccine output delays/problems).

One door closes, a vaccine future opens for GSK's Melbourne pharma plant - Australian Manufacturing Forum

By Peter Roberts The announcement that the Victorian government will back a new mRNA vaccine production facility with $50 million has offered new hope to the giant GSK pharmaceutical operation at Boronia in eastern Melbourne which has been slated for closure by the global group. With GSK...

www.aumanufacturing.com.au

"...giant GSK pharmaceutical operation at Boronia in eastern Melbourne which has been slated for closure by the global group.

With GSK re-directing its businesses towards biopharmaceuticals it has no need of the site – but the state and Australia have need of it as we battle to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and ensure future vaccine supplies.
....
BioDiem chairman Ken Windle, who worked at the plant and became Asia Pacific head of GSK before striking out on his own, said the company could produce an mRNA vaccine within a year of getting access to the plant.

It would also utilise prefilled injector systems from ApiJect Systems which incorporates specialist inspection machines made by Melbourne’s Andrew Donald Design Engineering.

mRNA technology is new and the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are the first globally to have been made successfully….but it is not a technology present in Australia today.

The GSK plant already manufactures the Rotarix vaccine and, crucially, specialises in the blow-fill-seal technology needed to encapsulate the vaccine in a ready to use form."

GSK’s Australian operations, ironically, were born in the emergency of war when Turkey cut off the allies’ supplies of opium to produce morphine."

...and has been available for some time, more than long enough to be manufacturing Pfizer/BioNTech doses (if the Federal Govt had wanted to) by now similar to how the Marburg facility in Germany had a small component taken over to produce around 250 million doses/year after just 3 to 4 months effort.

Pharma News: In July 2020, GSK Australia announced to employees and stakeholders that the Boronia site in VIC would exit the GSK manufacturing network and that a review would determine the next steps. Today, GSK confirms the closure of the Boronia manufacturing facility at the end of 2022.

I am sure that either GSK or BioDiem would have welcomed a 10 year offtake deal worth much less than the $1 billion given to CSL for its old-tech plant that may be ready by 2026.

For some reason there has been no such discussion, let alone offer despite approaches made to the Federal Govt.

 

[stryker]

None of that surprises me. Pity the federal Govt couldn't see through it, or , indeed, were interested. It may come back to bite them...

 

[RAM]

U.S. administers 225.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines -CDC

Fingers crossed we can start to get some excess from Moderna/Pfizer soon.

USA is flying along.

The Federal Government should be engaging with Moderna now (if they haven't already)...

.

Will be a little while yet as the US population is around 330 million (legal?) and so far just over 93 million have been fully vaccinated.

Allowing for a slow down, as early adopters have pretty much been dealt with in many large pop'n states, that leaves between 350 to 400 million doses to be administered likely at a rate of back around 2 million/day after June - so allowing for the 3 month wait for the 2nd dose - 'extra' or surplus doses will not be available any time sooner (even if we beat out Canada etc) than our Dec Qtr Pfizer last 20 million doses.

That is, provided that an annual booster shot is NOT required. If it does turn out to be needed then production capacity for the 1st two doses would be massively reduced.

Making the business case for an Australian based mRNA facility more than bankable.