The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[serfty]

Again if one is South East of the CBD you don't matter...

So a Hub in Cranbourne - South East of Metro is being covered at last ...

 

[Lynda2475]

Maybe you should just wait in line for your turn like like the rest of the population.

Im not sure sure why you think im not waiting? There is absolutely no choice but to wait because of over reliance on AZ (not recommended for under 50s), inefficient distribution plan with no proper schedule, poor communication and inconsistent reporting. Anyone who thinks its going well is deluded.

And ive been very clear about intention to wait for Pfizer (as is recommended for my cohort), not risk AZ given the lack of Covid exposure risk in community.

The only queue jumping has been politicians, olympians and all those who got the special number for Canberra clinic last weekend and secured Pfizer, becuase of a laughable prcoess where no cross checking on eligibility was done.

Asking for more information when a statement is made that mass pfizer hospital channels exceed what the Premier has announced will be opened isnt unreasonable. Info allows people to plan and monitor the right queues when bookings open.

Medical workers in 1a and 1b had the advantage of workplace access or hubs. But there has been no announcement of workplace schemes for 2a and 2b (missed opportunity as super sucessful for fluvax) and only limited (3) Pfizer Hospitals hubs and the yet to open Olympic Park site confirmed to eventually be accessible beyond 1a and 1b in metro area for Pfizer.

As you know from your own project experience, a transparent plan and clear communication is key to securing user buy-in and solution uptake. Where not provided you have people seeking alternative ways to confirm what is going on and what it means for them and/or you see resistance/refusal to participate.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Im not sure sure why you think im not waiting? There is absolutely no choice but to wait because of over reliance on AZ (not recommended for under 50s), inefficient distribution plan with no proper schedule, poor communication and inconsistent reporting. Anyone who thinks its going well is deluded.

And ive been very clear about intention to wait for Pfizer (as is recommended for my cohort), not risk AZ given the lack of Covid exposure risk in community.

The only queue jumping has been politicians, olympians and all those who got the special number for Canberra clinic last weekend and secured Pfizer, becuase of a laughable prcoess where no cross checking on eligibility was done.

Asking for more information when a statement is made that mass pfizer hospital channels exceed what the Premier has announced will be opened isnt unreasonable. Info allows people to plan and monitor the right queues when bookings open.

Medical workers in 1a and 1b had the advantage of workplace access or hubs. But there has been no announcement of workplace schemes for 2a and 2b (missed opportunity as super sucessful for fluvax) and only limited (3) Pfizer Hospitals hubs and the yet to open Olympic Park site confirmed to eventually be accessible beyond 1a and 1b in metro area for Pfizer.

As you know from your own project experience, a transparent plan and clear communication is key to securing user buy-in and solution uptake. Where not provided you have people seeking alternative ways to confirm what is going on and what it means for them and/or you see resistance/refusal to participate.

A tiny number jumped the queue with that huge beat up story about people getting Pfizer in Canberra. As I said before the Health Minister in Canberra seems to have no idea of what’s going on in her portfolio (nothing new there). She claimed in one news article that I read that the number is only given out by ACT Health. Wrong - all the GPs have it and are supposed to give it out with a letter to eligible patients of theirs, who need Pfizer. Which also makes her statement that it is only for front line workers equally garbage. She also stated about 3 weeks ago that they had almost completed front line workers - total idiot. Not that I think people should have jumped the queue for Pfizer, but I suspect someone from the clinic was sick to death of having partially filled appointments and decided to get them filled up.

we really do need a good campaign to inform people - I constantly come across people who have no idea what a respiratory clinic is and that they can go to it. While some people want to stick to their GP, most of the people I inform immediately dump waiting for a GP and go and book at the respiratory clinic once they are told about it.

 

[Lynda2475]

A little better research (whilst we waited for vaccines to be developed) could have easily revealed that the GP channel not the most practical for scale, nor is requiring phone bookings. Rest of the western world predominently doing online bookings for mass vac centres. Simplifies distribution of doses (fewer places to deliver to), allows for efficiency of scale and means GP practices can concentrate on treating patients who are actually unwell.

The Aus approach has over estimated the number of people who have a regular GP and the number that would seek to use that channel above others. Younger cohort (including those booking for their older parents) want ease of online booking, convenient locations so do not to have to take time off work and ability to get in and out quickly.

 

[RAM]

And some criticise me for lengthy posts including links etc...

My posts you dispute, talk about setting up & commencing manufacturing. You then twist this to 'distribution'. They have completely different meanings. A bit like how the BioNTech/Pfizer doses arrived in Austalia around Feb 15th but took the FDA just under a week to approve them for injecting into peoples' arms. The date they were manufactured was some time prior to their distribution.

The point being made is the Federal Govt & Australia, as repeatedly stressed by many experts who already are involved with mRNA in Australia, has repeatedly 'fiddled while Rome burned' & need to get behind the establishment of mRNA manufacturing facilities within Australia. With or without CSL.

Or deflect by claiming deflection in others. I still dispute many of your "facts".

Clearly. Once again, here are links to verify each 'fact' - I hope BioNTech is an acceptable source for the dates.

Will you then acknowledge the 'facts' as presented are correct?

Can you show me where CSL Behring owns Behringwerke at Marbig, which you claim?

Yes.
In 1904, Von Behring founded the Behringwerke in Marburg, Germany, for the purpose of experimental work on disease prevention and for the manufacture of sera and vaccines.
In 2004, CSL Limited completed the acquisition of Aventis Behring,[6] combining it with ZLB Bioplasma to create ZLB Behring (later CSL Behring). QED?

Spoiler: Activate for More

3rd time lucky.

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

Prof Thomas Preiss, a molecular biologist with the Australian National University who specialises in mRNA, said that, provided such agreement was reached, Australia would already be manufacturing local versions of mRNA vaccines.
“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.
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.

Within 6 months of announcing the deal, that is. Depending on how hair splitting one wants to be then 3-4 months after taking formal possession can be construed as 'within six months'.

Novartis did not 'own' the facility, similar to & the various airport terminals sold off in 2018 & 2019. Q sold their long term leases and Novartis sold BioNTech its long term lease to a part of the CSL owned Behringwerke.

That lease will expire December 31, 2034 - p 166 BioNTech SEC Filing 20F 31/3/21.

You can try and be tricky with dates, but Novartis facility was bought in Sep 2020 and distribution (not "approved doses") was this month. That's twice as long as you were stating as fact, by the originator, who was already producing. ???

Novartis did not produce any type of vaccine at that facility (egg based nor mRNA) nor any other facility if that is what you meant.

In fact Novartis sold off its entire vaccine business in 2015, mostly to GlaxoSmithKline.

You may be unfamiliar with transactions between companies dealing with physical plant (as opposed to a share issue) - announcing a deal does not mean a switch gets flicked & instantly the purchasing company is running everything the next day. In Germany this is even more the case - even down to receiving unon approval for the existing workers - things take time & in this case it was rushed through to happen within 3 months for 'financial close'.

BioNTech's web site shows all the 'announcements'.

They announce the deal in September stating it is 'expected to close in the 4th quarter', they then announce that financial close is reached in December 2020 and state work converting some of the leased space. They announce the commencement of manufacturing in February. Final regulatory clearance for the manufacturing facility (less than 4 months from commencement of actual work in the facility), on March 26th.

BioNTech Bolsters COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturing with Purchase of Novartis Facility
17 Sept 2020 BioNTech will take over the entire Novartis site that currently has approximately 300 employees in order to enable a rapid transition to production of the vaccine candidate, BNT162 upon the close of the transaction.

Financial 'close of the transaction' happened in December. However, actual manufacturing (testing for pre-certification) began 10 February 2021 - less than 3 months after access to the facility.

MAINZ, GERMANY, February 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - We started the manufacturing process at the Marburg facility with the execution of the first step: the production of mRNA, which is the active pharmaceutical ingredient of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. A single mRNA batch of the current scale is sufficient to produce around eight million vaccine doses.

BioNTech provides Update on Vaccine Production Status at Marburg Manufacturing Site | BioNTech

MAINZ, GERMANY, March 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BioNTech SE today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccine drug product at the facility in Marburg. As part of the process, EMA has approved the production of the drug substance, the

investors.biontech.de

March 26: BioNTech SE today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccine drug product at the facility in Marburg. As part of the process, EMA has approved the production of the drug substance, the mRNA, at the Marburg site over the course of this week. The approvals make BioNTech’s Marburg manufacturing site one of the largest mRNA vaccine manufacturing sites in Europe as well as worldwide with an annual production capacity of up to one billion doses of our COVID-19 vaccine, once fully operational.

Pfizer only partnered with BioNTech for the Covid 19 vaccine in 2020:

US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and BioNTech, a smaller German biotech firm, joined forces on April 9, 2020.

Fun fact: 35 litres of the BioNTech mRNA product (made in Warburg) diluted at 'filling' makes 8 million doses. If all goes well a batch is produced every 5 days, if not it takes 6 days.

A very good wrap up about mRNA past, present & future, make a cup of something first:

How COVID unlocked the power of RNA vaccines

The technology could revolutionize efforts to immunize against HIV, malaria, influenza and more.

www.nature.com

 

[Seat0B]

I

Tried this out - I can book at the respiratory clinic next week, if I fill in that I am over 50, but not if I fill in 18-49 Aboriginal, so currently it looks like only the part of 2A they originally announced was being brought forward has. Of course hotdoc might not have been updated yet but I can’t find anywhere that says all of 2A has been opened up.

It’s probably because over 50s will get AZ but 18-49 indigenous will require Pfizer?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So a Hub in Cranbourne - South East of Metro is being covered at last ...

Yes with a hub. But there are other ways to be vaccinated in the SE now.

You should be able to find somewhere near you in Hotdoc.



With becoming eligible I just booked in online today for vaccinations for my wife and I at the Rowville Respiratory Clinic for 10th May.

There was ample slots next week but as we have some social functions on next week, plus Mother's Day on Sunday, we booked in after those just in case we feel ill for a day or so.

 

[mviy]

It’s probably because over 50s will get AZ but 18-49 indigenous will require Pfizer?

Yes. Some of the media articles haven't been very clear. In one place indicating that over 50 2As have been brought forward and in other places incorrectly suggesting all of 2A is brought forward.

 

[RAM]

The presentation by the CHO in mid-March (not counting any further non-Aust AZ doses) showed over 9 million vaccine doses to be delivered by last week of April. Delivery 'issues' with CSL (not Pfizer) resulted in a total around 7 million - with Fed Govt very silent on that.

I thought they reserved at least 50% for second doses so 50% of theoretical production + 50% of Pfizer is the max we should see.

Nearly there. Correct & then 3 weeks later, starting Wk 4 the remaining 50% of Pfizer doses kept back fro 2nd dose from Wk 1 are due to be used (theoretically). But if the vaccine target is not met then that causes problems.

For the Pfizer that is supposed to be the case (holding back half) but the Fed CMO said as the time between doses for the AZ is 3 months and they wanted to get as many people quickly for their first dose - initially they would not be holding back half the AZ once production started in Australia. Even so there were over 714k doses of AZ available when the AZ rollout started. I may have missed an announcement that they have begun stockpiling AZ.

Spoiler

Currently with the Pfizer each week the around 135,000 doses are available for injection (if all went to plan, which it hasn't). Half from the latest week's cleared doses and half from the held back doses from 3 weeks earlier.

That's the theory, how the Fed Govt practice is going is unknown. They will not provide the figures (intentionally). From what's available:

Week 1 - there were supposed to be 60,000 vaccinations done out of 142k Pfizer doses received (so possible 71k now 71k kept back for 2nd in Wk 4 - yet 60k was announced target). As it happened 34,630 (revised) got done. So were 25+k Pfizer doses wasted (from the 1st round)? Never revealed.

Week 2 - next shipment was 166,000 doses. Theoretically total available doses now = over 25,000 not done in week 1 plus 11,000 half of amt kept aside in Wk 1 (142,000 - 2x 60k) + 83,000 (1/2 of latest cleared shipment) = over 119,000 available for immediate injection & 119k stored for 2nd injection. 51,747 done. Which was nearly 69,000 short of available doses.

Week 3 - next Pfizer shipment was 120,000 doses. TTA = 60,000 + 67,623 not done in Wk 2 = 127,623 Pfizer available + 717,000 AZ doses. 78,060 done = 9.2%, leaving 766,563 doses left over. The 2nd UK AZ shipment was approved & available for injection on March 11th.

Week 4 - next Pfizer shipment was 180,000 doses. TTA = 90,000 + 766,563 not done in Wk 3 + 34,630 2nd doses from Wk 1 = 891,193 available (of both AZ & Pfizer). 117,523 done = 13.2%. Hoping all 2nd doses were given, implies 82,893 first doses administered, so likely an increase in 1st doses of 6%. 773,670 doses left over.

Week 5 - next Pfizer shipment was 153,000 doses, 832,000 domestic AZ doses available. TTA = 908,500 (new) + 51,747 (2nd doses from Wk 2) + 773,670 leftovers = 1,733,917 available. Weekly figures not shown on DoH web site for March 28 (that I can find).

Total number of people vaccinated for COVID-19 in Australia

This weekly report shows the number of people vaccinated for COVID-19 in Australia.

www.health.gov.au

 

[Flying mermaid]

I

It’s probably because over 50s will get AZ but 18-49 indigenous will require Pfizer?

Yes I would think so - definitely using all the Pfizer so don’t want to create more demand, whereas spare AZ so let over 50s join the queue.

 

[mviy]

The government is considering ordering a French vaccine made by Valneva which is currently in development: Australia in talks with French firm Valneva about importing vaccine

 

[DC3]

The government is considering ordering a French vaccine made by Valneva which is currently in development: Australia in talks with French firm Valneva about importing vaccine

Interesting. Although, according to that article, the UK has been pro-active in already ordering 100M doses.

 

[serfty]

With becoming eligible I just booked in online today for vaccinations for my wife and I at the Rowville Respiratory Clinic for 10th May.

The nearest respiritry clinic to me (Carrum Downs) had 7th (too early after flu jab), 14th or 31st May.

Every one has different circumstances.

Jeff's shed is easier for me as near office - plus wide open availability. (I would have considered the 25 minute drive to Cranbourne)

 

[drron]

Interesting history of the Marburg plant RAM except that CSL Behring didn't own it to sell to BioNtech.It was owned by Novartis.Yes Novartis had sold it's vaccine division to CSL to form Seqirus.However the plant was not included in the sale.
So sorry CSL did not have a plant in Germany ready to produce mRNA vaccines.

BioNTech to buy Novartis manufacturing plant to bolster vaccine supply

The site, set to be one of the largest mRNA manufacturing plants in Europe, will help BioNTech and partner Pfizer make 750 million more doses of their coronavirus shot per year.

www.biopharmadive.com

Pharma company drastically boosts its potential coronavirus vaccine production | CNN

German pharmaceutical company BioNTech, which is currently developing a possible vaccine against the novel coronavirus together with US drug giant Pfizer, announced Thursday it was buying a new production plant in order drastically to increase its production capacities.

edition.cnn.com

CSL Seqirus

CSL Seqirus one of the largest influenza vaccine providers in the world and a major contributor to the prevention of influenza globally and a transcontinental partner in pandemic preparedness.

www.seqirus.com

Novartis has also entered into an agreement with BioNtech to prodce the mRNA vaccine at it's Stein plant in Switzerland.

Novartis joins pharma-wide effort to meet global demand for COVID-19 vaccines

A conversation with Joachim Momm, head of a Novartis manufacturing site that will be helping to produce Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses.

www.novartis.com

It is also going to help produce the CureVac vaccine another mRNA vaccine which began it's phase 111 trials in december and hopefully be available third quarter 2021.

Novartis signs initial agreement with CureVac to manufacture COVID-19 vaccine candidate

www.novartis.com

CureVac COVID-19 vaccine - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The Novavax vaccine came through the trials with flying colours and President Biden has hinted it will be the next vaccine to get FDA emergency authorisation.Unfortunately it is ak=lso being hampered by shortage of supplies in ingredients and packaging which wil delay it until third quarter 2021 for Australia.

Novavax’s ‘Secret Ingredient’ In COVID-19 Vaccine Also Works in Preventing Malaria

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine could be authorized for emergency use in the second quarter.

observer.com

If you read that report it is also trialling a Malaria vaccine reported to be 70% effective.The vaccine was originally a result of Oxford University research.

 

[louie-m]

Tried this out - I can book at the respiratory clinic next week, if I fill in that I am over 50, but not if I fill in 18-49 Aboriginal, so currently it looks like only the part of 2A they originally announced was being brought forward has. Of course hotdoc might not have been updated yet but I can’t find anywhere that says all of 2A has been opened up.

I've spent this week checking eligibility (to book on/after 3 May) for 60 y.o hubby on a daily basis here - Vaccines Eligibility Checker - only to be told

"Based on the information you gave us, you will soon be eligible to receive a vaccination.

Based on your age, you will soon be able to book an AstraZeneca vaccination. Please check here later this week."

I didn't realise you could go straight to Hotdoc to make an appointment and get asked the same questions (about age anyway) and then go on to make an appointment at the respiratory clinic. Could have got in on Monday but have made it mid-month as we'll be in the area that day rather than having to make a special trip.

Glad I saw your post. Thank you.

 

[jonboixxx]

In 1904, Von Behring founded the Behringwerke in Marburg, Germany, for the purpose of experimental work on disease prevention and for the manufacture of sera and vaccines.
In 2004, CSL Limited completed the acquisition of Aventis Behring,[6] combining it with ZLB Bioplasma to create ZLB Behring (later CSL Behring). QED?

That does not show me that CSL owns Behringwerke, which is operated by Pharmaserv. In your questionable campaign to discredit CSL, you originally stated that CSL owned the facility and many of your other assertions are not grounded in fact. Your "spoilers" continue a bunch of loosely relevant snippets of information that often don't support your conclusions. I've had fun, but I don't have the time to check all of your spoilers, sorry.

 

[jonboixxx]

The presentation by the CHO in mid-March (not counting any further non-Aust AZ doses) showed over 9 million vaccine doses to be delivered by last week of April. Delivery 'issues' with CSL (not Pfizer) resulted in a total around 7 million - with Fed Govt very silent on that.

Nearly there. Correct & then 3 weeks later, starting Wk 4 the remaining 50% of Pfizer doses kept back fro 2nd dose from Wk 1 are due to be used (theoretically). But if the vaccine target is not met then that causes problems.

For the Pfizer that is supposed to be the case (holding back half) but the Fed CMO said as the time between doses for the AZ is 3 months and they wanted to get as many people quickly for their first dose - initially they would not be holding back half the AZ once production started in Australia. Even so there were over 714k doses of AZ available when the AZ rollout started. I may have missed an announcement that they have begun stockpiling AZ.

Spoiler

Currently with the Pfizer each week the around 135,000 doses are available for injection (if all went to plan, which it hasn't). Half from the latest week's cleared doses and half from the held back doses from 3 weeks earlier.

That's the theory, how the Fed Govt practice is going is unknown. They will not provide the figures (intentionally). From what's available:

Week 1 - there were supposed to be 60,000 vaccinations done out of 142k Pfizer doses received (so possible 71k now 71k kept back for 2nd in Wk 4 - yet 60k was announced target). As it happened 34,630 (revised) got done. So were 25+k Pfizer doses wasted (from the 1st round)? Never revealed.

Week 2 - next shipment was 166,000 doses. Theoretically total available doses now = over 25,000 not done in week 1 plus 11,000 half of amt kept aside in Wk 1 (142,000 - 2x 60k) + 83,000 (1/2 of latest cleared shipment) = over 119,000 available for immediate injection & 119k stored for 2nd injection. 51,747 done. Which was nearly 69,000 short of available doses.

Week 3 - next Pfizer shipment was 120,000 doses. TTA = 60,000 + 67,623 not done in Wk 2 = 127,623 Pfizer available + 717,000 AZ doses. 78,060 done = 9.2%, leaving 766,563 doses left over. The 2nd UK AZ shipment was approved & available for injection on March 11th.

Week 4 - next Pfizer shipment was 180,000 doses. TTA = 90,000 + 766,563 not done in Wk 3 + 34,630 2nd doses from Wk 1 = 891,193 available (of both AZ & Pfizer). 117,523 done = 13.2%. Hoping all 2nd doses were given, implies 82,893 first doses administered, so likely an increase in 1st doses of 6%. 773,670 doses left over.

Week 5 - next Pfizer shipment was 153,000 doses, 832,000 domestic AZ doses available. TTA = 908,500 (new) + 51,747 (2nd doses from Wk 2) + 773,670 leftovers = 1,733,917 available. Weekly figures not shown on DoH web site for March 28 (that I can find).

Total number of people vaccinated for COVID-19 in Australia

This weekly report shows the number of people vaccinated for COVID-19 in Australia.

www.health.gov.au

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.

Your words! START TO FINISH, for you to compare possibilities for mRNA facility in Australia. Obviously, you have to purchase the facility (from Novartis Sep 20) and then deliver the final approved product (Apr 21). It could not be clearer, but you continue to argue the point.

My posts you dispute, talk about setting up & commencing manufacturing. You then twist this to 'distribution'.

Again, your words were "start to finish" which you have diluted ever since.

Clearly. Once again, here are links to verify each 'fact' - I hope BioNTech is an acceptable source for the dates.

Absolutely, I have been following their progress for some time.

BioNTech to Acquire GMP Manufacturing Site to Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Production Capacity in First Half 2021 | BioNTech

Mainz, Germany, Sept. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Facility will become one of the largest mRNA manufacturing sites in Europe and the third site in the BioNTech manufacturing network in Germany expected to produce BNT162 for global supply Expected to be fully operational in the first half 2021 with

investors.biontech.de

September 2020, that would be your "start". You generally can't operate in a facility, that you don't have rights on.

You may be unfamiliar with transactions between companies dealing with physical plant (as opposed to a share issue) - announcing a deal does not mean a switch gets flicked & instantly the purchasing company is running everything the next day. In Germany this is even more the case - even down to receiving unon approval for the existing workers - things take time & in this case it was rushed through to happen within 3 months for 'financial close'.

Fairly familiar with project timelines. Purchase, build or repurpose a facility (Sep2020), purpose-build the plant (in this case, highly specialised, not 'simple' as you mentioned somewhere). Testing, approvals, production, distribution. (April 2021). And remember this is the originator company, already in production in high-tech Germany.
Pfizer/BioNTech expect to collect $13-20B from this exercise. If Australian biotechs and sophisticated investors were able or want to replicate this, there is considerable financial incentive to do so. It's not always about government (or CSL for that matter) that need to always be the saviour.

 

[Seat0B]

Australia’s Covid vaccine rollout: how to fill the confidence gap | Ranjana Srivastava

No single explanation can fit the myriad things that affect an individual, but it helps to have a framework for approaching the problem

www.theguardian.com

A well reasoned piece on vaccine hesitancy and how to address it.

 

[openseat]

Lots of vaccine availability for 50+ this morning in Brisbane using the commonwealth vaccine booking website.

 

[Must...Fly!]

If demand isn't taken up - then I think should be open to all, as long as you make a reservation. Under 50, create two separate booking queues, one for AZ with waiver, one for Pfizer. Let's get the show on the road.