The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[Flying mermaid]

Great to see the feds finally publishing the doses distributed:

View attachment 247607

It’s not new - it’s now part of the weekly update so it was in the one on the 3rd May, 26th April, 19th April.

 

[Pushka]

Exactly and we only have one state widely using mass vaccination centres (VIC) so once the other states catch up it will build again.

The other great thing is the more people get vaccinated, the more people know someone who has been vaccinated and the media beat up stories and people breathlessly screeching about DEADLY VACCINE DANGER become less and less effective. There will be a snowballl effect from this as well, at some point.

My entire (adult) family is now done in Australia, because most of us work in healthcare. Plus a couple who just asked to be done ahead of their cohort and were allowed to at end of day clinics

SA now has one in near CBD with plenty of free parking. It's getting a lot of media traction. Both Pfizer for young people in 1A and b and everyone else in 2A has AZ.

 

[Lynda2475]

You keep forgetting Novavax where we have ordered 51 million doses.

I haven't forgotten it, but it is not yet approved and there is no guarantee it will be. Plus most people will want to see it used elsewhere (another first world country) safely, before rushing into the unknown. We need vaccine confidence, cant see anyone rushing in to be the Novavax Guinea pigs.

If Novavax is added to the mix and people are willing to get it the forecast will be adjusted. I for one wont consider it without at least 3 months of real world data in a country with a comparable quality health facilities i.e. UK, Western Europe, USA, Singapore or Canada.

NSW are the only state Im aware of publishing weekly target (the feds certainly aren't), which is to be 60k by end of May, and even that isnt high enough for every adult to get a first dose of a vaccine by the end of this year.

I think feds are still unrealistically hoping that more younger people will opt for AZ which we will have an over supply of (if CSL ever actually manage their 1m doses per week they promised) but unless we have Covid cases at high levels in the community, its not worth the risk.

Ive registered for the Pfizer stand by list, and if Im called will happily forgo a days paid work to go get a Pfizer jab. If I dont get a stand by shot I will wait for the 2B roll-out of Pfizer at a mass vaccination clinic - nothing short of hundreds of local cases a day will convince me that getting AZ is worth the risk.

 

[Lynda2475]

and everyone else in 2A

So SA is offering over 50s Pfizer? Unless you are an Aboriginal or Torres strait islander or a critical worker majority of 2A are over 50s and therefore should be getting AZ. Distributing vaccines differently to the recommendations will further delay roll-out for the majority of the adult population.

 

[Lynda2475]

It’s not new - it’s now part of the weekly update so it was in the one on the 3rd May, 26th April, 19th April.

The report I posted is a a daily report and the distribution table has not been there every day. I usually check mid and end of week, but clearly the Monday one is the one to watch, so thanks for pointing that out.

Its a shame that states have a surplus 20-40% of doses they aren't getting put into to arms each week.

The report needs to be augmented to show first a and second doses (by vaccine type) and also wastage. With most states not doing standby lists for Pfizer there is likely some being wasted each day which is not acceptable given the snails paced roll-out compared with where countries like UK and USA were at the same number of weeks in.

 

[Lynda2475]

Some reports tonight that a few people who registered their interest on the Service NSW website earlier today have been given appointments already

Apparently a bunch of under 50s booked appointments online ahead of the opening yesterday (as initially the online form didn't stop them) and those ineligible appointments had to be cancelled. This in part is what forced premiers hand in creating a standby list, which was a great idea.

What it shows is that huge numbers of under 50s are willing to get Pfizer as soon as they can, and that the mass vaccination clinic is the place they want to go to get it. Our HR sent out the stand by link yesterday morning, a survey this morning so far shows over 200 staff registered yesterday.

 

[drron]

The Novavax Phase 3 trial in the UK has been completed with efficacy rates the same as Pfizer.Which is in fact better than Pfizer Because they tested for asymptomatic cases and Pfizer did not.
However the US demands results of a US trial which now has been completed and a request for Emergency Approval should be made in June.On the results there should be no problem getting Emergency authorisation.

Another thing I like about Novavax is that they have promised to deliver 1.1 billion doses to Covax basically the same as AZ.Pfizer has promised 40 million doses and Moderna none at present.

I am not sure about not rushing into it's use as the opposite has appeared to be the case in discussions here on AFF with the other vaccines.

Unrelated of the first 1 billion vaccine doses administered 31% have been in North America,2% in Africa.

The most promising coronavirus vaccine you’ve never heard of

Novavax’s rise comes as pressure to increase the supply of Covid-19 vaccines is growing amid concerns that unequal access globally will extend the pandemic.

www.politico.com

Pfizer only began exports of US produced vaccine in the last days of April.
As I have said before with 50 years experience of big Pharma I don't trust anything that Pfizer says.

 

[Lynda2475]

there should be no problem getting Emergency authorisation

But TGA isn't issuing emergency authorizations, we will have to wait for full approval. I cant see that before September, if no one is using it elsewhere before July.

Surely there is real world data on asymptomatic cases in those who have been vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, AZ and J&J by now given the huge number of doses given?

I don't trust anything that Pfizer says.

But why not trust real world results ? Astra Zeneca is also Big Pharma but you trust them more, why?

 

[Pushka]

So SA is offering over 50s Pfizer? Unless you are an Aboriginal or Torres strait islander or a critical worker majority of 2A are over 50s and therefore should be getting AZ. Distributing vaccines differently to the recommendations will further delay roll-out for the majority of the adult population.

No. I've amended my original post as I see I didn't specifically mention AZ when I "both". It's a dual Vax clinic.

 

[jase05]

No. I've amended my original post as I see I didn't specifically mention AZ when I "both". It's a dual Vax clinic.

Sounds like it’s overwhelmed with bookings already. 3 month wait for AZ

 

[Lynda2475]

Some of the commonwealth respiratory clinics still have AZ appointments this week.

 

[Pushka]

Sounds like it’s overwhelmed with bookings already. 3 month wait for AZ

I have no idea of the messaging there from SA Health but I checked a couple of hours ago and found this - an appointment this Thursday!

 

[jase05]

I have no idea of the messaging there from SA Health but I checked a couple of hours ago and found this - an appointment this Thursday!

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www.adelaidenow.com.au

And article in full


SA’s first dual vaccination hub has opened at the Adelaide Showgrounds – and already patients are reporting delays and difficulties booking an appointment.

South Australia’s first dual mass COVID-19 vaccination hub has opened to patients in Adelaide as authorities struggled to meet demand and a new row erupted over the state’s sluggish rollout.
Patients reported difficulties booking times at the Adelaide Showgrounds clinic, which yesterday offered both Pfizer jabs for people aged up to 49 or AstraZeneca doses for those 50 years or older.
SA Health confirmed a three-month wait to get a booking for the AstraZeneca vaccine.


“We are seeing strong demand for AstraZeneca appointments at Wayville and encourage people to keep checking the online booking system for new appointments as we scale up operations and bring additional staff on board,” a statement from SA Health said.
“We also remind people to book at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital AstraZeneca clinic, which has appointments available.”
SA Health said Wayville has “plenty of availability of the Pfizer vaccine for under 50s in Phase 1a and 1b”.
The details emerged as a woman in her 30s with COVIDwas last night in a stable condition in the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s intensive care unit. Another man in his 30s is also in the RAH.
SA Health reported no new cases on Monday, but 17 COVID-positive patients remain in the Tom’s Court coronavirus facility.
“These are two relatively young people (in hospital) and it just shows how deadly … COVID-19 can be,” said chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier.


SA Health officials are looking at boosting vaccine resources, as they urged people to be patient and check its website for appointments.
At least 800 people will receive an AstraZeneca vaccine at the hub this week and a further 3000 people will get Pfizer. Central Adelaide Local Health Network capital projects executive director, Rachael Kay, the Wayville clinic’s boss, said resources were based on demand modelling. “There’s certainly going to be more capacity opening up for the rest of the month,” she said.

India has received millions in aid for the COVID-19, but reports say that some hospitals don’t have the help they need.
Among those jabbed yesterday was businessman Mark Wynter, 52, a father of two of Unley, pictured, who said he “didn’t feel a thing”.
“The more people that get it, the safer SA will be,” he said.
SA Health data shows 163,000 people, or 15 per cent of those older than 16, have had at least one vaccine shot. At least 28,000 others are fully vaccinated with two doses.
Health Minister Stephen Wade said SA had “the highest vaccination rate” of any mainland state, based on Commonwealth data showing more than 12 in every 100 people had been immunised.
“We … lead the nation in terms of vaccination,” he said.
But a separate Federal Government breakdown published yesterday shows SA Health has used two-thirds of its 126,550 available deliveries.
Last week, 59 per cent of 95,080 available doses was used, and 57 per cent of 79,990 vials a fortnight ago. There are 56,240 doses in stockpile.
Opposition spokesman Chris Picton said SA was the second worst usage state, and that “does nothing to help protect the community”.

 

[Pushka]

SA Health confirmed a three-month wait to get a booking for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

I know. As I stated. I don’t understand SA Health messaging. I heard media reports which is why I checked. Incredibly concerning they comment without knowing their own booking system.

 

[Lynda2475]

Mass vaccination hubs definitely popular with the under 50s.

Tens of thousands in their forties sign up to receive Pfizer in NSW

Up to 2379 people received the Pfizer vaccine at the hub on Monday - more than a third of the 6297 inoculated by NSW Health statewide.

www.smh.com.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The mass vaccination hub will be able to complete roughly 5000 vaccinations a day when it begins to offer the AstraZeneca vaccine to members of the general public aged 50 and over on May 24.

So another fortnight for NSW Health to really crank up.


“The mass vaccination centre will be able to administer up to 30,000 vaccines per week once it is up and running, that means around 5000 vaccinations per day,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The centre, combined with the more than 100 NSW Health run clinics and hubs, means NSW Health can administer around 60,000 vaccines each week across the state.”

Mass vaccination centre opens

The mass vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park has opened today with thousands of people booked in to receive the COVID-19 vaccine this week.

www.nsw.gov.au

We need those extra AZ doses out to the GPs. The more channels the better.

 

[drron]

But TGA isn't issuing emergency authorizations, we will have to wait for full approval. I cant see that before September, if no one is using it elsewhere before July.

Surely there is real world data on asymptomatic cases in those who have been vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, AZ and J&J by now given the huge number of doses given?



But why not trust real world results ? Astra Zeneca is also Big Pharma but you trust them more, why?

But the TGA is issuing Interim authorisations.They issued one to AZ without the FDA in the US issuing any authorisation.So I don't see why the TGA wouldn't issue one to Novavax.The June date is the application to the FDA in the US.

Yes there is now real world data on the Pfizer and AZ vaccines and in both the UK and now South Korea the AZ vaccine performs just as well as Pfizer.

Astra was one of my more trusted pharmaceutical companies.Not as much now they are AZ.Boehringer Ingleheim was top of my list for being trustworthy.Pfizer in my opinion tried to mislead people in their communications.I don't think they have changed.

 

[Flying mermaid]

But the TGA is issuing Interim authorisations.They issued one to AZ without the FDA in the US issuing any authorisation.So I don't see why the TGA wouldn't issue one to Novavax.The June date is the application to the FDA in the US.

Yes there is now real world data on the Pfizer and AZ vaccines and in both the UK and now South Korea the AZ vaccine performs just as well as Pfizer.

Astra was one of my more trusted pharmaceutical companies.Not as much now they are AZ.Boehringer Ingleheim was top of my list for being trustworthy.Pfizer in my opinion tried to mislead people in their communications.I don't think they have changed.

Mr FM said to me some weeks ago, that he thought Pfizer was just better at marketing than AZ.

 

[drron]

Mr FM said to me some weeks ago, that he thought Pfizer was just better at marketing than AZ.

I agree but you really need to know the science behind the marketing
As has been said here for the Phase 3 trials Pfizer only tested symptomatic patients whilst AZ tested all so picked up the asymptomatic patients that Pfizer missed.Scientifically dubious but definitely allowed them to better market their vaccine.

 

[Lynda2475]

Surely once there is widespread real world usage (6+months in the case of Pfizer, Moderna, AZ), the trial data becomes irrelevant as it is superseded by real world results?

Where Pfizer has been used (USA, Israel etc) we have seen dramatic drops in cases, seriousness of cases and so presumably Asymptomatic spread - that is more than marketing. I don't think you can claim that only AZ is stoping spread vs serious illness, or the turn around in Israel wouldn't be so great.